The $230 billion-plus value of licensing can be a positive message for the boardroom

License! Global magazine reports that the world’s top 150 brand licensors generated US$230 billion globally in 2012 from retail sales of licensed products, while the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association has found that North American businesses received $4.454 billion in royalties from trademark licensing last year. Such statistics can benefit trademark teams in their efforts to demonstrate corporate value – but in-house counsel must also assume a leading role in brand monetisation if they are to do so.