LIMA UK’s Managing Director, Kelvyn Gardner, is to lead a panel discussion and Q&A session about licensing in the publishing industry at London Book Fair at Earls Court on 17 April (10-11am). Kelvyn will be speaking alongside Helen McAleer, Managing Director at Walker Books and Claire Potter, Marketing Director at Metrostar, on how publishers can use licensing to drive revenue and extend their own content into consumer goods.

LIMA will also be taking a stand at the Fair, which is one of the world’s premier marketplaces for rights negotiation and the sale and distribution of content across print, audio, TV, film and digital channels. The fair attracts over 24,000 professionals from the international publishing industry, including both licensees and licensors.

LIMA’s panel discussion is part of a varied seminar programme intended to deepen participants’ understanding of topical issues affecting publishing, enable them to network with peers and question expert panels. According to LIMA’s latest international research, publishing is the fifth largest sector of licensing, amounting to some seven per cent of UK licensing business.

Kelvyn Gardner, Managing Director of LIMA UK, comments: “Publishing has long been a key platform for licenses of all kinds, as books and magazines allow the back-story and characters of any new property to reach consumers effectively and early. Additionally, content originating in publishing – Harry Potter, The Gruffalo, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Horrid Henry – to name but a few, have themselves become major consumer products successes in the wider licensing fields. LIMA's presence at this year’s London Book Fair will serve to build more business for all of us.”

LIMA is offering discounted tickets to LIMA members who want to attend London Book Fair – tickets are just £10 per person (normal price £30 advance, £45 on the door). To reserve a discounted ticket, please call or email Saphia Maxamed, LIMA Membership Services Manager on +44 1908 802 863 or email smaxamed@licensing.org.