The award is co-organized by Licensing International and Licensing Expo Shanghai, since 2017.

The award judging panel is formed by industry experts around the world, and online ballot. The award aims at recognizing licensing excellence, creativity and innovation in China.

I. Awards Schedule

Submission: February 14th – March 17th, 2023
Review: March 20th – March 28th, 2023
Judge panel: Mid April, 2023
Announce finalist: April 28th, 2023

Online ballot: May 10th – May 23th, 2023
Awards issuing: China Licensing Awards Ceremony, June 28th, 2023

II. Awards Definitions

The Awards recognize licensing excellence for licensed property, licensor and licensee during the qualifying period (from March 1st, 2022 to February 28th, 2023). The property must have at least one active licensee, and have product that is or has been sold or given away at retail, or available through any other consumer distribution channel in China market during the qualifying period.

China Property of the Year
This award recognizes licensing excellence, creativity, and innovation for a licensed property developed by a China based company or individual with respect to the property’s primary origin, content, design and/or materials.

Corporate Brand/Fashion/Lifestyle Property of the Year
This award recognizes licensing excellence, creativity, and innovation for corporate brand, fashion or lifestyle properties.

Film/Television/Game/Media/NFT Property of the Year – Entertainment
This award recognizes licensing excellence, creativity, and innovation for entertainment properties supported by a feature film, television show, game, media, NFT, publishing.

Museum/Gallery/Art Property of the Year
This award recognizes licensing excellence, creativity, and innovation for museum/gallery/art property.

Young Property of the Year
This award recognizes licensing excellence, creativity, and innovation for a licensed property appeared in Global market in the last 3 years. There will be 3 winners of this award.

Licensed Promotion of the Year
This award recognizes the most outstanding use of a licensed property to promote a different product or service. This does not refer to the promotion or launch of a licensed property or product itself.

Location-Based or Experiential Initiative of the Year
This award recognizes the most outstanding use of a licensed property at a location or event, such as pop-up store, theme park and theme exhibition.

Brand collaboration of the Year / Innovative collaboration of the Year

This award recognises the best partnership of the year between two or more brands of similar recognition. This team-up will have been innovative and successful in driving growth, audiences and buzz during the year. This collaboration must be a limited quantity and/or a limited time offer.
Licensing agency of the Year
This award recognises the skills, efforts and results based on licensing programs developed and achieved by an agency for the development and execution of a licensing program, consisting of not less than one (1) licensee, and marketed in China anytime during the year.

Licensee of the Year – Toy
This award honors toy manufacturers and brands for an innovative licensed product or product line created for one specific property or brand.

Licensee of the Year – Apparel/Accessories/Footwear
This award honors apparel, accessories and footwear manufacturers and brands for an innovative licensed product or product line created for one specific property or brand

Licensee of the Year – Personal Care/Beauty
This award honors personal care and beauty manufacturers and brands for an innovative licensed product or product line created for one specific property or brand.

Licensee of the Year – Houseware
This award honors houseware manufacturers and brands for an innovative licensed product or product line created for one specific property or brand.

Licensee of the Year – Food/Beverage
This award honors food and beverage manufacturers and brands for an innovative licensed product or product line created for one specific property or brand.

Licensee of the Year – Stationery/Novelty
This award honors stationery and novelty manufacturers and brands for an innovative licensed product or product line created for one specific property or brand.

III. Prizes
There will be 5 finalists from each category and 1 winner of all the awards, excluding Young Property of the Year Award, which will have 3 winners of 10 finalists.
1. Prizes for finalists: online promotion, included in Licensing Expo Shanghai E-newsletter, onsite promotion at Licensing Expo Shanghai.
2. Prizes for winners: trophy, online promotion, included in Licensing Expo Shanghai E-newsletter, included in press release, onsite promotion at Licensing Expo Shanghai and other events organized by Licensing Expo Shanghai.

IV. Preparing Your Entry
The following are eligible for entry:
• Licensors
• Licensing Agents
• Manufacturers
• Promotions That Utilized Licensed Properties and/or Licensed Product
• Locations or Events that utilized licensed properties
(You can either nominate yourself or nominate other company)

In order to be considered:
1. There is no limit for the origin of the IP, whereas it must have licensing activity in China.

2. You may enter in any of the categories – a separate online entry must be submitted for each category you enter (both in Chinese and English). You must use the official online entry form which can be found on our website. Hard copies, faxes, and e-mail versions will not be accepted.

3. You must write a short statement explaining to the Awards Committee why you believe your entry is deserving of recognition on the Awards Ballot. Awards criteria includes:
• Creativity, Originality, and Innovation – What was innovative about the property, product, or promotion?
• Marketplace Acceptance – How well was the product, program, or promotion received in the marketplace in terms of placement, sell through or achievement of other goals?
• Social Impact – How does product, program, or promotion influence the society notably in a positive way?
Note:
You should include only the most important and relevant information that will support your nomination. The inclusion of retail sales revenue and number of doors are very helpful to the Committee when considering your entry. This information will be kept strictly confidential. You will be informed if this information needs to be released.

4. Please make sure the content that you filled in can be released to public.

Please fill the online form completely before submission.
Any query, please send an email to licensingexpo@informa.com