National Basketball Association Joins Roster at Licensing International Expo

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NEW YORK, April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Licensing International Expo, the world's leading marketplace for buying and selling Intellectual property rights, announced today that the National Basketball Association (NBA) will be joining the list of the prestigious brand licensors as a first time exhibitor. Licensing International Expo will take place June 8-10, 2010 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV.

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"This is a significant milestone in the evolution of Licensing International Expo," commented Show Director Liz Crawford. The NBA is the most global of all the major U.S. sports leagues and the first to exhibit independently at the Licensing International Expo. The NBA has quickly become a global lifestyle brand and recognizes that Licensing International Expo is the ideal marketplace to meet new international retailers and manufacturers.  Besides its leadership role in U.S. sports, the NBA has had tremendous success in penetrating diverse international markets such as China, India, the Philippines, Western Europe and Eastern Europe , the Middle East , Latin America and Africa to name a few," Crawford added.

"The NBA continues to grow on a global basis," said Rob Millman Senior Vice President of International Licensing and Business Development for the NBA.  "The Licensing International Expo has a tremendous ability to attract international buyers, manufacturers, licensees and agents from around the world and through our presence at the expo we expect to form some mutually beneficial new business opportunities."

For complete information on the show visit www.licensingexpo.com.

About Licensing International Expo

Celebrating its 30th year, Licensing International Expo is the most established licensing event in the world and has become a global marketplace for leveraging brand and property equity for developing new licensed consumer products. The show's appeal brings together top- level retail and manufacturing executives from more than 82 countries who look to Licensing International Expo to discover new brands and revenue generating opportunities within the $191 Billion licensing industry. Licensing International Expo is sponsored by LIMA.  This years show will take place June 8-10, 2010 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. For up-to-date exhibitor listings, seminar scheduling, travel support and registration information, please visit www.licensingexpo.com.

Follow the 2010 Licensing International Expo on Twitter at twitter.com/licensingexpo and visit the Licensing International Expo Fan Page on Facebook (www.licensingexpo.com/facebook).

About Advanstar Communications

Advanstar Communications Inc. (www.advanstar.com), producer of Licensing International Expo, Brand Licensing Europe, Brand Licensing Central & Eastern Europe and License! Global Magazine, is a leading worldwide media company providing integrated marketing solutions for the License, Fashion, Life Sciences and Powersports industries. Advanstar serves business professionals and consumers in these industries with its portfolio of 147 events, 68 publications and directories, 267 electronic products and Web sites, as well as educational and direct marketing products and services. Market leading brands and a commitment to delivering innovative, quality products and services enables Advanstar to "Connect Our Customers With Theirs." Advanstar has approximately 1,000 employees and currently operates from multiple offices in North America and Europe.

About LIMA

Founded in 1985, LIMA is the worldwide trade organization for the licensing industry. LIMA's main objective is to work together with licensors and licensees for the advancement of professionalism in licensing through research, national and international seminars, trade events and publications. With members in 35 countries, and offices in New York, London, Munich, Tokyo, Shanghai and Hong Kong, members enjoy access to a wide variety of activities, information and benefits. LIMA is a proud sponsor of the annual Licensing International Expo, Brand Licensing Europe, LiMa Licensing Market (Munich), Day of Licensing (Cologne), Licensing Asia (Tokyo), Shanghai Licensing Pavilion and the Hong Kong Licensing Show. In addition, LIMA offers ways to jump start a career in licensing through its Certificate in Licensing Studies (CLS) program, which is the only educational course specifically designed to prepare professionals to succeed in the ever-changing licensing industry, and the flip (Future LIMA Industry Professionals) program offering support and networking for industry newcomers. For more information please visit www.licensing.org.

SOURCE Advanstar Communications Inc.