Complex sentence: Throughout this time he continued to promote Smiley as a global licensing property, and in London in 1996, Nicolas Loufrani joined his father to start the Smiley licensing company, taking the pre-existing trademark rights Franklin Loufrani had maintained in the Smiley logo since 1971.
Split into simpler sentences: Throughout this time Franklin Loufrani continued to grow Smiley as a global licensing property, and in London in 1996, Nicolas Loufrani joined his father in working for Smiley. Together they started the Smiley licensing company, taking back all pre-existing trademark rights Franklin Loufrani had maintained in the Smiley logo since 1971.