SANTA MONICA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Informa Markets’ Global Licensing Group, the licensing industry’s leading tradeshow organizer and media partner, today announced the expansion of its License This! program, which is set to make an inaugural debut in the US market at Licensing Expo Virtual in addition to returning to Brand Licensing Europe for the 12th consecutive year.
Through the expanded global initiative, both events, produced in partnership with industry trade association Licensing International, will provide select illustrators, designers, animators, and product inventors, the exciting opportunity to pitch their concepts online in front of a panel of expert judges and to an audience of manufacturers, retailers, and brand owners for the chance to win one-on-one consultation with members of the judging panel and the regional competition sponsor, a free-of-charge booth at an upcoming Global Licensing Group trade show, plus a one year membership to Licensing International and one year membership to Products of Change Group.
Entries for the free-of-charge competition are open for the Brand Licensing Europe and Licensing Expo communities. Visit here to submit an application for License This!.
The competition within each region will be comprised of following three categories:
The Character & Animation and Brand & Design categories are both aimed at unlicensed brands and properties looking to use the platform to secure a licensing deal or agency representation. Judges are looking for new creative concepts which have the potential to spread across multiple product categories. Typically, applicants are illustrator, publishing, or animation focused.
The Inventions & Product Innovation category, supported by partner InventHelp in the US and Mojo Nation in Europe, is about tangible product inventions that are patented or patent-pending or innovative product designs that would benefit from licensing, either through in-bound (i.e. putting a character on it to enhance it) or out-bound to a manufacturer (i.e. wearables item that is licensed by a mass manufacturer from the inventor). Judging is based on the invention’s product design uniqueness, brandability of the product, and presentation and pitch of the submission video. All three categories take sustainability into consideration during the judging process.
The Licensing Expo Virtual edition will be chaired by Warren Schorr, vice president of business development & global licensing at Crayola, who works to grow and extend a brand that has become a true household name. “Licensing is an immensely powerful tool that companies use to extend their brand reach into consumers lives. Licensed products can often inject innovation, creativity, and personality into product lines across categories,” said Schorr. “It’s my honor to serve as the Chair of the judging panel and help selected License This! participants navigate the exciting world of brand licensing and new product development.”
“Discovery and creativity are pillars of the Brand Licensing Europe and Licensing Expo trade shows, both of which are foundational to the License This! program,” said Anna Knight, VP of Licensing, Informa Markets. “Our aim with the competition is to drive new artists, illustrators, and product inventors into the industry on a global scale by providing once-in-a-lifetime access to mark their place in the licensing industry and look forward to this year’s roster of creatives.”
The Licensing Expo Virtual edition is sponsored by WestEnd Software, the leading software solution for the licensing industry, and is partnering with InventHelp for the Inventions & Product Innovation category, harnessing their extensive expertise in the invention process. “InventHelp is pleased announce our continued partnership with Licensing Expo who has provided the inventor community with a unique opportunity to introduce their inventions to decision makers of such vast brands and industries. The original Pitch The Brands program has been well-received since its introduction to the US market back in 2018 and are so excited to merge this competition with License This! to evolve and elevate the program.”
To learn more about License This! and to submit an entry, please visit here.
Follow Licensing Expo on social: #LicensingExpo
Follow Brand Licensing Europe on social: #BrandLicensingEurope
Launched in 1980, Licensing Expo is the world’s largest and most influential annual tradeshow dedicated to licensing and brand extension. Every year, more than 5,000 brands and 16,000 retailers, licensees, manufacturers, distributors, and licensing agents attend Licensing Expo from more than 70 countries. Licensing Expo is a part of the Global Licensing Group at Informa Markets, the licensing industry’s leading tradeshow organizer and media partner. Its mission is to provide licensing opportunities around the world by bringing brands and products together.
About Licensing International
Licensing International is the leading trade organization for the $290+ billion global brand licensing industry. Licensing International’s mission is to foster the growth and expansion of brand licensing around the world, raise the level of professionalism for licensing practitioners, and create greater awareness of the benefits of licensing to the business community at large. Founded in 1985, Licensing International members in over 40 countries enjoy access to an array of benefits including extensive educational programming and worldwide networking events. Visit www.LicensingInternational.org for more information.
About InventHelp
The License This! competition, formerly known as Pitch The Brands in the US, is made possible through a collaboration with Licensing Expo and InventHelp, who has been helping inventors submit their invention ideas to companies for 35 years. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based invention services company has more than 65 sales offices throughout the United States and offers inventors services including prototyping, 3D design, and patent referrals.
About WestEnd Software
WestEnd™ Software Inc. is an innovative developer of enterprise software solutions for the Licensing and Entertainment industries. The WestEnd™ Workspace solution offers a comprehensive, end-to-end suite of software tools that enable licensees, licensors and agencies to better manage all aspects of their licensing programs, including contract lifecycles, product approvals and royalty reporting.
About Mojo Nation
Mojo Nation is the home of Mojo Nation and Brands Untapped. Mojo Nation covers the world of toy and game design, hosting conferences, awards and pitching events for inventors. Brands Untapped is a platform for the licensing industry, focusing on the creativity and design behind brand extensions and collaborations across every industry, from Haribo sneakers to Bond-flavored popcorn.
Contacts
US Media Contact
Lauren Lloyd
310-266-4792
LicensingPR@informa.com
UK Media Contact
Charlie Le Rougetel at BIGTOP
+44 (0)7736 330676
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