Top Experts Lead Discussions on the Industry’s Hottest Topics Including Global Brand Expansion, New Media Licensing, Innovative Promotions and More

Licensing International Expo 2008 and the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA) are joining forces once again to present Licensing University, the industry’s premiere educational opportunity from June 9-12 at New York’s Jacob Javits Convention Center.

Held during Licensing International Expo 2008, Licensing University is turning out to be more informative that ever, offering 34 licensing seminars, workshops and panels tailored to attendees at every experience level – from novice to advanced.

Each session will feature top executives and licensing leaders sharing their experiences in the industry for the best first-hand education available today. Included in this year’s list of moderators and speakers are executives from such company’s as Disney, Fox, NPD Group, Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products, The Beanstalk Group and Target, among others.

Commenting on this year’s lineup, Charles Riotto, President of LIMA, stated, “We are delighted to once again bring together many of today’s top licensing innovators and thought leaders for four days of comprehensive study, discussion and debate. Whether new to the intricacies of the licensing industry or an expert looking for new ideas and opinions, Licensing University is the epicenter of discovery.”

And while Licensing International Expo 2008 officially opens its doors on Tuesday, June 10, Licensing University is in session one day early, offering those new to the licensing industry and first time exhibitors several educational sessions designed to enhance their overall experience. June 9th sessions include “An Introduction to Licensing for the True Novice,” “The ABCs of Licensing,” “How to Maximize Your Exhibiting and Attendance,” and “Understanding the Legal Side of Licensing.”

Additionally, with more than 25,000 attendees from over 82 countries at last year’s show, the subject of licensing on the international platform will be heavily examined at this year’s Licensing University, from “Working with International Licensing Agents” to “How to Maximize Your Brand Presence and Penetrate the Potential Chinese Market via Hong Kong.”

Some of the other exciting subjects to be covered in this year’s sessions include:

Food for Thought: Opportunities in Food Licensing
Food and beverage products remain the largest segment of brand licensing and its brands among the world’s biggest licensors and licensees. This panel will explore the food and beverage segment of the licensing industry and the special considerations that are relevant to the sector.

The New Media Licensing Revolution
There seems no end in sight to the number of ways consumers can interact through new media, whether it’s via the internet, mobile phones, interactive television or others. Discover how you can use your skills to entertain age groups other than pre-school children and make money from merchandise without relying entirely upon retailers.

Protecting Licensors from Product Safety Concerns & Recalls
Multiple recalls have impacted consumers in a major way and licensed products have not been spared. This diverse panel including licensors, licensees and quality control experts will discuss the effects of product safety on the licensing industry and how to mitigate recall risk.

More information on this year’s Licensing 2008 International and a full list of its seminars can be found at www.licensingshow.com.