Licensing Seminar
The Art of Brand Licensing Seminar to Be Sponsored by the COB
From Curious George and Princess Diana, to corporations like Nike, licensing opportunities generate enormous profits. The Art of Brand Licensing is an upcoming workshop sponsored by the Department of Marketing. Designed for business professionals, graduate students, artists, and faculty from a variety of institutions, the event is scheduled for September 15th and 16th, with a certification option on September 30th.
A team of industry experts will present case studies and information on important trends, core issues, and legal principles related to licensing. Through this workshop participants will learn practical methods to develop licensed brands, promotions, and products-- knowledge that is critical for many companies since licensing is a multi-billion dollar industry in the U.S.
“What is really interesting about brand licensing is that the licensor or brand holder not only receives royalties from the licensee based on the sales of an item that uses the brand, but also can build the equity of its brand for free since the licensee is actually promoting it,” explained workshop coordinator, Peter Kaufman (MKT).
The keynote speaker for the conference is Jerome L. Houle III, Founder of Bliss House, Inc. Houle has one of the longest and strongest experience records in the licensing world. He is the former Vice President Marketing Worldwide for Jim Henson's Muppets Corp. and also served as Vice President of Licensing Worldwide for the Milton Bradley Company. Houle was one of the 8 founders of the world’s professional licensing association. He is a frequent speaker at professional conferences on licensing and children’s product development, and has authored articles for more than a dozen trade publications.
Other presenters include Mike Porter, the Category Manager of Toys, Gifts & Collectibles in John Deere's Brand Licensing group, Howard Fine, a licensing and intellectual property attorney, and Maura Kelly, director of licensing at The Bradford Exchange.
Porter is a graduate of Illinois State University with a degree in Marketing. He has been with Deere for 11 years and has helped grow John Deere's toy, gift & collectible business by more than 150% during that time.
During his career, Howard Fine has negotiated, drafted, and reviewed license agreements and other commercial arrangements with virtually every major licensor in the entertainment and licensing industries. His expertise includes transactions relating to the design, development, manufacture, distribution, sale, advertising, and promotion of toys, games, learning products and software, as well as the utilization and exploitation of technology.
Maura Kelly is a graduate of Georgetown University and the New York Law School. She was director of licensing for Photo File Inc., the leading supplier of sports photography to the public. Currently she is Director of Licensing at The Bradford Exchange, where her team manages thousands of contracts ranging from artists to major brands.
For additional information contact Peter Kaufman pkaufma@ilstu.edu. To register for the event call Illinois State University Conference Services at 800-877-1478.
