Spider-Man the Movie
, a Columbia Pictures Theatrical Release, took top honors last night as the 2002 Overall Best License of the Year at the 19th Annual LIMA Gala & Awards Ceremony for the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA).
Spider-Man the Movie, its licensees and agents combined, captured a total of five awards, the first time in the history of the LIMA Awards program that one property garnered so much recognition. In addition to the Overall License of the Year, the property was awarded Entertainment License of the Year and the International License of the Year.
Activision, Inc. won Entertainment Licensee of the Year (Hard Goods) for the Spider-Man the Movie video game and Columbia Pictures took home Promotion of the Year for its Spider-Man the Movie multi-partner promotional program with Carl’s Jr., Hardees, Cingular Wireless, Dr Pepper, Hershey’s, Kellogg’s and Reebok.
“The fact that Spider-Man the Movie had a part in five different awards is truly a testament to the strength of the property and the licensing program,” LIMA President Charles Riotto, said in a statement. “It helped account for the 3.9% increase in Character-based licensing revenue we saw last year.”
In the Character category, Disguise, Inc. took home the award for Licensee of the Year (Soft Goods) for its Spider-Man Classic line of costumes. The Hard Goods award in this category went to Play Along, Inc. for Care Bears plush. Clifford the Big Red Dog by Scholastic Entertainment was awarded License of the Year.
Briefly Stated, Inc. received the Entertainment Licensee of the Year Award (Soft Goods) for SpongeBob SquarePant with men’s & boys’ underwear, sleepwear & ties and women’s & girls’ sleepwear & daywear. Hot Topic won the Retailer of the Year Award for its SpongeBob SquarePants program.
Jeep by DaimlerChrysler, represented by the Joester Loria Group took the top prize in the Corporate category as License of the Year. The Singing Machine Co., Inc. won the Licensee of the Year Award (Hard Goods) for the MTV branded karaoke machine. The Soft Goods award went to Marcolin USA, Inc. for CoverGirl eyewear & sunglasses.
In the Sports/Special Events category, the National Basketball Association (NBA) was awarded the honor of License of the Year. Mitchell & Ness received the award for Licensee of the Year for its NBA Hardwood Classics Retro Jerseys.
Rounding out the awards were: Mary Englebreit for the Art License of the Year Award; the International Licensing Agency of the Year award went to Copyright Promotions Licensing Group for its 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan program. In addition, a special Merit Award for Licensing Creativity went to the Licensing Group, Ltd for the Terminator 2 program. Spanning 11 years, the program continues to be a success. The International Licensing Excellence Awards are selected by the more than 1,000 members of LIMA and receive a coveted three-dimensional, etched-glass trophy, featuring the LIMA logo.
In addition to the awards presentation, Beverly Cannady, creator of the Mattel licensing department, and Lois Sloane, a leading proponent in the development of licensing and marketing classic film archives, were inducted into the Murray Altchuler Licensing Industry Hall of Fame at the ‘Dance, Celebrate, Laugh and Network’ themed Gala last night.
