Licensing International
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Licensing International firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Licensing International
- Legal name
- Licensing International, Inc.
- Website
- https://licensinginternational.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Licensing International industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Trade Association Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Merchandising, Character & Brand Licensing (MPADALAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Content Licensing (Film/TV, Clips, Stills) (MPADALAA), Sports & Event Media Rights Licensing (MPADALAE), Luxury Licensing & Brand Management (CRAKAFAL), Branded Content & Sponsorship Licensing (Integrations, Product Placement) (MPABANAH)
Keywords
Where Licensing International is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Licensing International business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual membership fees providing access to networking, directory, events, publications, and industry resources
- Coursework in Licensing Studies (CLS): On-demand certification program for licensing professionals: $800 for members, $1,750 for non-members
- Event Tickets and Sponsorships: Revenue from Hall of Fame Induction ($350-$600 tickets), regional summits, and event sponsorships
- Publications Store: Sales of industry reports including BrandTrends Reports, Euromonitor Reports, Global Licensing Survey, and white papers
- Licensing Essentials Course: Crash course in brand licensing targeting retail executives and professionals entering the licensing industry, offered annually
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | One-time payment | Coursework in Licensing Studies (CLS) - Member Rate |
| Subscription | One-time payment | Coursework in Licensing Studies (CLS) - Non-Member Rate |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Hall of Fame Individual Tickets - Early Bird |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Hall of Fame Individual Tickets - Standard |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Licensing International product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Licensing International is a membership-based trade association serving the global brand licensing industry. The organization provides paid membership, industry-leading events (such as Licensing Expo), professional certification (QLP via Coursework in Licensing Studies), and authoritative market research publications (Global Licensing Industry Study, BrandTrends, Euromonitor reports) to companies and individuals working in brand licensing.
Product overview
Licensing International is a membership-based trade organization serving the global brand licensing industry for over 35 years. The organization offers a unified platform combining events (Licensing Expo, Brand Licensing Europe, regional summits), education programs (CLS certification, Licensing Essentials Course, Webinars), and market research (Global Licensing Industry Study, BrandTrends Reports, Euromonitor Reports). Additional offerings include awards programs (Global Excellence Awards, Hall of Fame, Rising Stars), a member directory, and professional initiatives like the Young Professionals Network and Foundation scholarship program. The organization operates through regional chapters including France, Germany, UK, Japan, Mexico, Australia/New Zealand, Brazil, Canada, China, and Italy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Licensing University: Educational conference held during select trade shows including Licensing Expo
- Coursework in Licensing Studies (CLS)
- Young Professionals Network (YPN)
- Global Excellence Awards
- Global Rising Stars
- Hall of Fame
- Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards (B&LLAs)
Products and services
- Licensing International Membership
- Licensing Expo
- Brand Licensing Europe
- France Licensing Day
- Germany Licensing Summit & Awards 2026
- Sports Licensing Summit 2027
- Coursework in Licensing Studies (CLS)
- Global Licensing Industry Study
- Licensing Essentials Course
- Hall of Fame Induction & Global Rising Star Awards
- BRANDmania
Quantifiable outcome
- Industry market size reached $389.8 billion in 2025, up 5.45% year-over-year
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Licensing International
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Licensing International technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Licensing International partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Global Licensing Group (Informa Markets)coreLong-standing partnership organizing major licensing events including Licensing Expo (world's largest licensing tradeshow) and France Licensing Day. Global Licensing Group is part of Informa Markets and serves as the commercial event organizer while Licensing International serves as the industry association partner.
- Spielwarenmesse GroupcoreCo-organizers of BRANDmania festival, Europe's largest B2B networking festival for licensing and partnerships. The event takes place at Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen, Germany, featuring major entertainment and toy companies including Hasbro, NBC Universal, Mattel, Paramount Global, and Warner Bros. Discovery.
- UNCF (United Negro College Fund)minorLicensing Partners International (LPI), a trademark licensing division of CLC, announced partnership with UNCF to develop and manage UNCF's first enterprise-level brand licensing program, leveraging UNCF's iconic 'A Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Waste' messaging through curated merchandise.
- Brandar ConsultingcoreResearch partner conducting the annual Global Licensing Industry Study, covering 51 countries and 1,068 companies. The study is the authoritative market research for the global licensing industry.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Licensing International competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA): U.S. trade association for apparel and footwear brands. Peer because apparel is one of the largest end-markets for licensed merchandise and AAFA's membership substantially overlaps with Licensing International's licensee base, with similar advocacy and event programming.
- Spielwarenmesse eG: German cooperative that organizes the world's leading toy trade fair (Spielwarenmesse) and co-organizes BRANDmania with Licensing International. Listed because it is an existing strategic co-production partner — adjacent rather than competing, but materially comparable as a member-serving IP/licensing event operator.
Broad incumbents
- Consumer Technology Association (CTA): Trade association that produces CES. Peer in the trade-show-as-flagship-asset model with global membership, proprietary research, and certification-style programming — directly analogous to how Licensing International monetizes Licensing Expo and the Global Licensing Industry Study.
- National Retail Federation (NRF): Largest U.S. retail trade association and operator of NRF Big Show, a flagship annual convention. Comparable in operating a mega-scale member trade show and serving retailers (a primary Licensing International customer segment sourcing licensed merchandise for store shelves).
- International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI): Global trade body for the recording industry. Peer in being a non-profit member association that publishes authoritative global market data, runs regional advocacy, and represents rights-holders — a structural twin to Licensing International's role in the brand licensing ecosystem.
Direct peers
- Motion Picture Association (MPA): Global trade association for the film and television industry. Peer because character and entertainment licensing — anchored by MPA-member studios (Disney, Universal, Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount) — is Licensing International's largest revenue category at $161.8B, and MPA provides similar advocacy and global market services.
- The Toy Association: Not-for-profit trade body for the North American toy industry. Directly comparable because toys are a flagship licensing category (Hasbro, Mattel are leading exhibitors at BRANDmania alongside Licensing International events), and the Toy Association runs its own member-driven trade shows, advocacy, and research.
- International Trademark Association (INTA): Global not-for-profit trade association serving trademark and brand professionals. Closest peer to Licensing International in mission and member base: both serve IP/brand owners, publish authoritative industry research, run major annual events, and monetize via membership dues and certification/education programs.
- Entertainment Software Association (ESA): U.S. trade association representing the video game industry. Peer because gaming IP is one of the fastest-growing licensing categories (referenced in Licensing International's market studies) and ESA runs comparable membership, research (Essential Facts), and event programs around IP-driven entertainment.
Regional players
- International Publishers Association (IPA): Global trade federation of national publisher associations. Peer as a non-profit member-driven organization delivering industry data, education, and international events around IP rights — comparable scale, governance, and revenue mix to Licensing International.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Licensing International social profiles
Digital presenceLicensing International financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Licensing International leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Licensing International funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Licensing International M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Licensing International
What does Licensing International do?
Licensing International is a membership-based trade association serving the global brand licensing industry. The organization provides paid membership, industry-leading events (such as Licensing Expo), professional certification (QLP via Coursework in Licensing Studies), and authoritative market research publications (Global Licensing Industry Study, BrandTrends, Euromonitor reports) to companies and individuals working in brand licensing.
Is Licensing International a public or private company?
Licensing International is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Licensing International founded?
Licensing International was founded in 1989. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Licensing International based?
Licensing International is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Licensing International make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are coursework in Licensing Studies (CLS), event Tickets and Sponsorships, publications Store and licensing Essentials Course.
Who are Licensing International's main competitors?
Others on record are American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) and Spielwarenmesse eG. Broad incumbents are Consumer Technology Association (CTA), National Retail Federation (NRF) and International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI). Direct peers are Motion Picture Association (MPA), The Toy Association, International Trademark Association (INTA) and Entertainment Software Association (ESA). International Publishers Association (IPA) is listed as a regional player.
Does Licensing International have an API?
No public API is recorded for Licensing International.
What industry is Licensing International in?
Licensing International's product category is Trade Association Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADALAF, Merchandising, Character & Brand Licensing, with a secondary code of MPADALAA, Content Licensing (Film/TV, Clips, Stills).