LIMA 2006 survey shows solid gains made across the board last year in U.S.

It's no secret that the U.S. licensing industry is entering a state of maturity, with overall royalty income across all sectors hovering around the US$5 billion mark for the past few years. According to industry org LIMA's most recent annual Licensing Industry Survey, U.S. licensors brought in approximately US$5.9 billion in revenues in 2005, up 1.8% from the previous year. As LIMA president Charles Riotto notes the real news is it's the first time since the Yale/Harvard team began conducting the study nine years ago that every category of license (including character/entertainment, art and corporate brands) finished up or even in revenues.