Wynne-Jones IP returns as sponsor for a third year, as a raft of new judges join the 2020 panel.
Brand Licensing Europe has opened entries for its annual License This! competition, which gives young brands and designers a much-needed leg up into the multi-billion-dollar world of licensing and brand extension.
The judges will be on the lookout for the very best entries in two categories – Character & Animation, and Brand & Design. Entrants can hail from anywhere in the world, but they must be unsigned, not working with an agent or have any retail deals in place. Entry is free here.
Finalists will be selected no later than 11th September. New judges for this year’s Character & Animation category include Ian Downes, founder of Start Licensing. Ian commented: ““Licensing is an industry that thrives on new ideas and fresh talent. It can be hard to break through sometimes, so a forum like License This! is a very welcome one as it shines a light on creativity. I look forward to seeing this year’s entries. Well done BLE for driving License This forward.”
The winner from each category will receive a free exhibition stand at BLE 2021, one year’s Licensing International membership, PR support, and invaluable advice from the panel of industry experts. In addition, all finalists will receive legal consultation from competition sponsor Wynne-Jones. Previous entrants – both winners and finalists – have successfully signed lucrative agent and licensing deals off the back of the competition and are championing fellow entrepreneurs to sign up.
Last year’s joint-winner, Rosie Brooks, added: “It was a really fun experience and it has opened so many doors for me already – I can’t wait for BLE this autumn. If you’re thinking about entering this year, all the judges I spoke to said it was about the potential of the idea rather than finished and polished product lines, so if you have an idea you think has the possibility to grow, make lots of prototypes: the more you experiment, the stronger the idea will become.”
To find out more, click here.
