Sometimes, it’s about sending a message.
Pop Mart — maker of Labubu — sued a small online seller in China.
The claim? Copyright infringement for using Labubu artwork on tumblers and water bottles.
The infringer didn’t show up.
(Not a surprise. These sellers run lean and their margins are VERY thin. They hardly have legal sophistication or budget to lawyer up. Bottom line: no real defense anyway when the copy is that clear).
Labubu won (not a surprise either)
Damages? RMB 100,000 (~$15K).
Not much — probably cost that just to sue.
But that’s not the point.
Because Labubu is not short on cash:
🔥 It’s a billion-dollar brand and a luxury icon — BLACKPINK Lisa wears it (my fave), so do Rihanna and David Beckham.
🔥 A life-size Labubu just sold for $260K at auction.
🔥 Regular dolls sell out in seconds and are blowing up on TikTok.
So why sue?
✏️To make an example.
✏️To show Labubu is not JUST cute — but has REAL legal teeth (after all, they have 2,000+ trademarks in China, 300+ alone in the toy class (Class 28) and 70+ copyright registrations. They also have global trademark coverage in the US, UK, EU, and Southeast Asia).
The question is: Pop Mart could’ve just filed takedowns or sent a regular C&D letter. Why sue?
Because the process could’ve dragged out for months. And like a whack-a-mole game, the bad guys would’ve popped back up in a few months.
Instead, they sued. loudly.
Just like in 2024, Labubu recorded their IP rights and helped the Chinese customs seize over 1 million+ fake Labubus products — a loud move that made a lot of noise and grab the media’s attention. Guess who else noticed? The infringer community.
Take away?
If you’re building a brand with value — enforce early, visibly, and unapologetically. Somethings all the legal moves and strategies just take too long. It makes sense simply go ahead and bring down the hammer.
What’s your brand’s biggest challenge in China?
On August 7, Amy Hsiao is speaking at PLI on 2025 China Trademark Litigation & Enforcement — covering top infringement cases, enforcement trends and how the trade war is impacting U.S. brands, from supply chain to brand perception.
