The LEGO Group wins major intellectual property lawsuits against Chinese firm

The LEGO Group wins major intellectual property lawsuits against Chinese firm

(PRESS RELEASE) GUANGZHOU, China / BILLUND, Denmark, 20-Jan-2020 — /EuropaWire/ — Intellectual Property Court in Guangzhou has handed a favorable decision for the toy company, The LEGO Group, for its appeals for multiple intellectual property infringement against Chinese firm.

In November 2018, the Danish toy production company, The LEGO Group has been favored by the court upholding all of the first-instance rulings on 18 copyright violations and one unfair competition cases. The second-instance decisions are final and have entered into legal effect immediately upon issuance.

The Lepin products are identified and protected under China Copyright Law that belongs to the LEGO Group. The Shantou Meizhi Model Co., Ltd. and its affiliates are being accounted for the illegal manufacturing and selling of the said products. 

The court recognized the LEGO NINJAGO, NEXO KNIGHTS, and LEGENDS OF CHIMA series of toy sets as products of certain influence in China. In its final ruling, the trade dress for these products (and packaging) as well as the characters of LEGO NINJAGO are protected under the Anti-Unfair Competition Law in China.

The court, therefore, ordered Meizhi Model and all other defendants to cease the illegal manufacture of the said products and should pay for the damages to The LEGO Group amounting RMB 4.7 million (DKK 4.5 million/ around 600 thousand EUR). The court also instructed the defendants to make a public apology on the websites of China Toy and Juvenile Products Association and Guangdong Toy Association to the LEGO Group for Lepin infringement.

Robin Smith, Vice President and General Counsel, China & Asia Pacific, The LEGO Group, said “intellectual property rights are very important to the LEGO Group, and we constantly strive to enforce and protect our LEGO trademarks, copyrights, designs and patents. We are pleased with the court’s final decision and appreciate the efforts from all stakeholders in this case. It also shows the Chinese authorities’ commitment in creating a favourable business environment for multinational companies.”

The lawsuit symbolizes victory for the LEGO Group to fight against imitators.

The LEGO Group will continue to support Shanghai authorities in the ongoing criminal case against executives of Meizhi Model who were arrested during the police’s raid against Lepin factories in April 2019.

In the past several years, The LEGO Group has obtained positive outcomes in its intellectual property enforcements in China. In October 2017, the LEGO group also won a case against a Chinese toy manufacturer Bela for infringing the copyright and for unfair competition. 

The LEGO Group is dedicated to enforcing intellectual property rights against copiers and infringers and to protect its consumers.

For media enquiries, please contact:
E-mail: media@LEGO.com

SOURCE: The LEGO Group

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