The Copyrights Group stand (No 310) will once again capture the attention of the Brand Licensing industry audience with a daily agenda of launches, book signings, news and updates across its diverse range of Lifestyle, Character and Art properties. 

Activity in the stand will kick off on Wednesday morning (10am – 12 noon) with a book signing by Jacqueline Wilson.  The Rough Guides team will also be at the show to lend their support to the launch of the Rough Guides licensing programme and its many travel-related opportunities.

Updates and licensing opportunities across all Copyrights’ properties will be on the news agenda including the forthcoming première of the Miss Potter movie coupled with the recently announced Corporate Social Responsibility Charter and complementary brand initiative - Peter Rabbit Naturally Better.  Also, the latest on the Marie Claire lifestyle ranges and collections, opportunities for the Classic Ladybird brand, global deals and high profile charity partnership for Violent Veg and Paddington’s 50^th birthday plans.

Jacqueline Wilson – Starring Tracy Beaker

A true ambassador for her brands, best-selling children's author Jacqueline Wilson will be back on the Copyrights Group stand to sign copies of her new Tracy Beaker book - 24 hours ahead of the book’s official launch.  Entitled Starring Tracy Beaker this is Jacqueline’s first Tracy Beaker novel in 14 years.

Rough Guides^TM

Copyrights will launch the first licensed merchandise programme for Rough Guides – the contemporary travel guides and reference book brand - at Brand Licensing 2006.  The Rough Guides brand presents an opportunity for licensees to create exciting, cutting-edge products for the independent–minded consumer. 

The first Rough Guide was published in 1982. Nearly 25 years on, Rough Guides publish over 300 travel guides, maps and phrasebooks and over 70 reference titles. From Amsterdam to Zanzibar, Blogging to Weather, and everything in between – there’s a Rough Guide to all aspects of contemporary living.

Partners in the Rough Guides licensing programme will benefit from:

• More than 25,000 images commercially available in the Rough Guides database.
• Major promotions celebrating 25 years of Rough Guides are planned for 2007.
• Comprehensive consumer website at  www.roughguides.com

Unique licensing opportunities are available across apparel, fashion accessories, luggage, stationery, games, services, sports and leisure equipment, and computer software. There is also potential for innovative franchise programmes.  See separate press release for more information.

The World of Beatrix Potter

The World of Beatrix Potter is set to have an amazing year in 2007 following two exciting announcements for the brand – a brand enhancement initiative and the launch of the Miss Potter film.

Peter Rabbit™ Naturally Better is a new World of Beatrix Potter™ initiative, backed by a Corporate Social Responsibility Charter.  Warne and The Copyrights Group will be working with licensees to develop products and services to offer consumers and retailers a better alternative. Themes covered include ethical, environmental, health and packaging issues, with the aim of developing products which are: Better for the environment; Better for mothers and children; and Better for the people who make them. See separate press release for more information.

MISS POTTER is the enchanting love story inspired by the life of the most successful children’s author of all time and her romance with her publisher, Norman Warne. Starring Renée Zellweger as Beatrix Potter, Ewan McGregor as Norman Warne, and directed by Chris Noonan (BABE). MISS POTTER will go on cinema release in the UK on 5^th January 2007.  See separate press release for more information.

Classic Ladybird

With the first two licensing deals recently signed with ‘kiss me kwik’ and Art Meets Matter, the Ladybird licensing programme will be one of many brands highlighted on the Copyrights stand at Brand Licensing 2006. 

‘kiss me kwik’ is a first time licensee with Copyrights and an initial range of 24 Ladybird cards and notebooks are being produced under its artistic arm - Simon Spicer. The nostalgic quality of the Ladybird illustrations will be complemented by contemporary captions giving the range a humorous and retro feel.  The first series was launched at Top Drawer this Autumn with another 24 card designs planned for 2007 along with a gift range including mirrors, magnets and coasters. 

Contemporary giftware licensee, Art Meets Matter, is also currently selecting images from the extensive Ladybird catalogue of artwork images to use on bags, mugs, placemats and canvases. 

Marie Claire

The global reach of the Marie Claire licensing programme continues and new developments will ensure it remains in the spotlight and is a major talking point on the Copyrights stand at Brand Licensing 2006.  The UK and particularly Australia have both played a part in a successful year to date for the lifestyle brand.

UK licensees, Powerplay and Seaspray have launched respective ranges of bed linen and swimwear respectively, while Australian licensee PlayCorp has launched an extensive and stylish range of home décor and soft furnishings through upmarket Australian department store group, Myer.  Copyrights also introduced the PlayCorp range to the North American market via a product showcase at Licensing International in June, which generated a wave of positive feedback and licensing enquiries.  In response to the consumer success of the PlayCorp range in Australia and the trade reception in New York, Copyrights are soon to announce the distributor for the range in the UK.

The Marie Claire brand presents a wealth of licensing opportunities and its success in Australia bears testament to this.  Copyrights Australia has agreed licenses with:  Moran Furniture to develop a range of Sofas, Beds, Occasional Furniture and Rugs; Food Brands Pty Ltd to produce a range of Marie Claire Foods and Beverages which will comprise over 50 SKUs due to launch before the end of October; stationery licensee, ‘@ Source’ will be launching their third product collection in October followed by Wedding Planners and Baby Books in 2007.  Hallmark Ltd has produced a 2006 calendar featuring images of the most beautiful Australian homes and a food dedicated calendar is planned for 2007 along with a second Home/ Lifestyle calendar.

Paddington Bear’s 50^th

Initial thoughts and plans for Paddington Bear’s 50^th birthday in 2008 will be a forward planning focus for Copyrights at Brand Licensing 2006. 

Since he first set foot on Paddington Station and met Mr and Mrs Brown, Paddington Bear has become undeniably one of the world's classic bears, appealing to all ages. 

Paddington books have sold more than 30 million copies worldwide, in 30 languages, across 70 titles.  More than 265 licensees, making thousands of different products across the UK, Europe, USA, South-East Asia, Japan, Australia and South Africa all benefit from the universal recognition of Paddington Bear. 

Violent Veg

Latest news from the edgy and rarely politically correct world of Violent Veg is sure to be a key focus for the Copyrights Group at the show

Highlights will include:  news about an exciting initiative with national bone marrow charity, The Anthony Nolan Trust; a global mobile content deal with Crucible Media;  a global deal with Solo Syndication AND the launch of the Violent Veg online shop – www.violentveg.com

The Violent Veg team will be on the Copyrights Group stand on Thursday 5 October, signing copies of the new Violent Veg joke book due to be launched this month by Penguin.  The book is part of the three-year deal with Penguin which has also generated a spiral-bound desk calendar and desk diary targeted at the Christmas market.

A gallery of Violent Veg images will be open for viewing opposite the Copyrights stand for licensees and retailers to get a real feel for the extensive range of characters and their broad consumer appeal. See separate press release for more information.

Throughout the show, The Copyrights Group will of course be highlighting product developments, new style guide treatments, and licensing opportunities across their extensive and diverse portfolio of classic characters, lifestyle brands, fine art, tween and nostalgia properties.

Visit The Copyrights Group at Stand 310, Brand Licensing, The National Hall, Olympia, London, 4-5 October.

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Notes for Editors:

The Copyrights Group Ltd was established in 1984 and has its headquarters in the UK with offices in Japan and Australia, and works with independent sales agents in the US and Continental Europe.  The Copyrights Group is one of the world’s leading independent licensing companies with a portfolio of classic characters, fine art and lifestyle brands including Peter Rabbit, Paddington Bear, The Snowman, Jacqueline Wilson, Flower Fairies, Rough Guides and Marie Claire.