Pop Mart, a toy retailer that sells the popular Labubu toys in Singapore, is pursuing legal action over the unauthorised use of its images.
This was announced in a statement posted on Facebook by Pop Mart on Friday (22 Nov).
Source: Google Maps
Pop Mart, which manages the intellectual property (IP) for Labubu, said it recently discovered the unauthorised use of its IP.
It added that the operators of certain brands are doing either or both of the following actions:
Pop Mart named bubble tea store PlayMade and clothing retailer Recoil as two of these brands.
As Pop Mart doesn’t have any official licensed partners in Singapore, any use of its brand imagery or IP likeness for promotions or appearances here is unauthorised, it said, adding:
We are actively pursuing legal action to protect our brand, artists’ works and our fans from these infringements.
The company is “fully committed to taking all necessary measures to defend our brand and community”, it also said.
Pop Mart advised that it cannot guarantee the authenticity or quality of any Labubu or other Pop Mart products distributed through these sources.
Thus, it urged fans to report any unauthorised use of its brand or suspicious websites to them immediately through its official customer service channels, saying:
Your support plays a vital role in maintaining the integrity of POP MART.
Source: Google Maps
Food establishments are not being spared from scrutiny, either.
Pop Mart intends to take legal action to stop them from selling food products made in the likeness of Labubu in Singapore, reported The Straits Times (ST).
Pop Mart International’s head of strategic partnership Kevin Zhang said none of these food vendors were authorised to do so.
The company is taking action as illegal and unauthorised use of IP would hurt its future brand partners, i.e. those who’re willing to pay a licensing fee to use the characters, he explained.
Notably, local bakery Ji Xiang had launched Labubu-inspired ang ku kueh. Co-owner Kelvin Toh had told MS News he began selling them in September, on a pre-order basis.
However, Ji Xiang stopped selling the kueh on Monday (18 Nov), according to ST, after it learnt that Pop Mart was intending to take legal action.
Another business, Cantonese restaurant Peony Jade, also stopped taking pre-orders for its dark chocolate bao shaped like Zimomo — another character whose IP is managed by Pop Mart — when it was told about Pop Mart’s intention to take action.
Also read: The real backstory of Labubu & all you need to know about the toy
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Featured image adapted from POP MART Singapore on Facebook and Google Maps.
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