Sanrio Brand Licensor Says The Darndest Things, Or Maybe Not

TGIF

Peter Ollier wrote an article about how Disney and Sanrio are licensing some of their brands in China.

Licensable "cuteness" popular among Hong Kong population
Lanham Place, Mong Kok
Photo: Danny Friedmann

Roberto Lanzi, president of Sanrio Consumer Products for Europe, Middle East and Africa, was speaking at a panel called "Licensing and the flourishing region: Asia", at a conference during the 10th annual Hong Kong International Licensing Show. Mr Lanzi said that he was the only speaker on the panel that did not hate counterfeits.

He claimed to feel relieved when he once saw fake Hello Kitty products being sold in Hong Kong's Ladies Market:

"When Hello Kitty disappears from there we might be dead."

However, the Ladies Market in Mongkok, has been removed by the USTR from the list of Special 301 Out-of-Cycle Review of Notorious Markets, on December 20, 2011, see here.
Maybe that is the reason why Mr Lanzi is president for Europe, Middle East and Africa, and not Asia.

UPDATE: In a reaction (still have to verify the identity of commenter) Roberto Lanzi wrote: "I never mentioned Lady's market, I spoke about Temple Street and I was just jocking. Best regards Roberto"