$187 Billion Global Licensing Industry Comes to Life at Licensing International Expo...

$187 Billion Global Licensing Industry Comes to Life at Licensing International Expo 2008

Biggest Brands of Today and Tomorrow Converge on New York City,
June 10-12
NEW YORK--(Business Wire)--
From June 10-12, more than 25,000 attendees from over 82 countries
will converge on New York's Jacob Javits Convention Center for
Licensing International Expo, the world's premier marketplace for the
$187 billion licensing industry.

Playing host to over 25,000 attendees from 82 countries, Licensing
International Expo 2008 promises to be the largest assembly of
licensing professionals anywhere, at any time -- from intellectual
property owners, licensees and agents, to retailers, wholesalers and
beyond. Whether spotting trends, building strategic partnerships,
securing promotional tie-ins, or taking properties worldwide, this is
where it all happens.

But the real stars of the show are the 6,000 properties and brands
showcased throughout the halls of Jacob Javits Convention Center,
ranging from the established to the up-and-coming. Spanning such
categories as entertainment, lifestyle, sports, fashion, food &
beverage, automotive, home, publishing, art and more, this year's show
is certain to uncover countless compelling stories.

According to Steven Ekstract, Group Publisher of License! Global
Magazine, here's a few to watch for next week:

Character Licensing

The largest category, character licensing generates over $42
billion in annual global retail sales. In addition to the various
characters making their debuts at this year's show, countless classics
celebrate milestone anniversaries this year and next, including Smurfs
(50th anniversary), Inspector Gadget (25), Angelina Ballerina (25),
Veggie Tales (15), Where's Waldo?(R) (21), Cabbage Patch Kids (25),
Casper the Friendly Ghost (turning 60 in 2009), Barbie (50 in 2009)
and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (25 in 2009).

Entertainment

While films like "Indiana Jones," "Iron Man" and "Sex and the
City" are current box office favorites, several highlighted titles are
certain to generate significant buzz (and licensed product revenue) in
the years to come, including "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" (2009), "Ice
Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" (2009), "GI Joe" (2009), "Where the Wild
Things Are" (2009), "Transformers 2" (2009), "Conan" (2009), "Land of
the Lost" (2009), "The Last Airbender" (2010) and others.

Going Global

Licensing truly is a global business, as evidenced by the numerous
products and brands whose popularity knows no borders. Among popular
foreign properties now making their mark in the US are South Korea's
Pucca, Japan's Angel Cat Sugar, Italy's Gormiti and France's Monster
Buster Club. Meanwhile, the popularity of Western brands in such
emerging markets as Eastern Europe, China, India and Russia will
continue to be a major avenue of growth in an otherwise struggling US
economy.

Fashion Friendly

For retailers, deals with consumer friendly brands serve as a
welcome source of foot traffic and, ultimately, sales in an otherwise
slumping retail environment. Most recently, the industry has seen such
collaborations as Marvel and Carrefour, Disney's Hannah Montana and
Wal-Mart, Hasbro and Steve & Barry's, and Disney's Camp Rock and
Target, among countless others.

The Green Movement

With an increasing focus on protecting the environment, several
consumer brands have developed eco-friendly properties this year.
Among those highlighted include Penguin's Peter Rabbit...Naturally
Better, the quintessential green brand based on the classic Peter
Rabbit stories from Beatrix Potter; Planet Earth, the BBC's epic
award-winning production and the inspiration behind an extensive
licensing and merchandising program; the eco-friendly Idbids
characters; and a range of products from The Beanstalk Group and The
World Wildlife Fund which are considerate of the environment and offer
consumers better everyday choices.

Wide World of Sports

From the sale of Red Sox World Series caps on the streets of Tokyo
to Beckham emblazoned Galaxy jerseys dotting downtown LA, the global
market for licensed athlete and team products has never been stronger.
Among the sports brands represented at this year's show are NASCAR,
Little League Baseball, Little League Softball, Elite Mexican Soccer,
Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the
International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the PGA TOUR.

Timeless Legends

As the popularity of celebrity branded product lines continues to
strengthen, this year's show features a number of icons whose legacies
are certain to attract significant attention. Elvis Presley
Enterprises will be celebrating the King of Rock and Roll with a
series of artists and photographers showcasing their work of him.
Among others to be showcased are Marilyn Monroe, Groucho Marx, John
Wayne, and Bruce Lee.

More information on Licensing International Expo 2008, its
exhibitors and a full list of the various educational seminars to be
hosted by the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers'
Association (LIMA) can be found at www.licensingshow.com. Accredited
media can register through today at by completing the application at
http://www.licensingexpo.com/convdata/licensingshow/brochures/Media_Re
g2008.pdf (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted
into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if
one exists), or onsite beginning at 8am on Tuesday, June 10th.

About Licensing International Expo

Now in its 28th year, Licensing International Expo 2008
(www.licensingexpo.com) is the most established and dominant licensing
event in the world. The show is the global marketplace for leveraging
brand and property equity and for developing new licensed consumer
products. The Expo features 600 exhibitors, which represent more than
6,000 properties for consumer products, in categories including
corporate brands, entertainment, sports, lifestyle, publishing, art
and design and much more. Exhibitors include Fortune 500 consumer
brands, Hollywood's top movie studios, publishing giants, artists and
designers, which all introduce their properties to the marketplace at
the show. With 25,000 attendees from 82 countries representing the
world's leading retailers, manufacturers, agents and brand owners,
Licensing International Expo 2008 is an opportunity for business
expansion, whether the business is a new property, an exciting popular
character or a classic brand. The Licensing International Expo 2008
provides a unique and diverse platform to judge the viability and
compatibility of existing brands at a show which represents the
worldwide licensing marketplace.

5W Public Relations
Clint Cantwell, 212-584-4318
ccantwell@5wpr.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008