First published in South China Morning Post
On July 18, Chinese toymaker Pop Mart filed a complaint in a California district court against 7-Eleven Inc. and seven convenience store owners over allegations of selling counterfeit merchandise and trademark infringement. The suit seeks injunctions to stop the sale of these infringing products, as well as punitive damages and court fees.
The suit stems from Pop Mart’s signature Labubu merchandise and from competing retailers attempting to capitalize on its global popularity, which has contributed to an expected 350 percent increase in Pop Mart’s profits compared to last year. The company reported that the global launch of the Labubu series in April led to sales exceeding 43 million USD through May.
The lawsuit was confirmed by Pop Mart on July 24, though no details were provided regarding the timeline for subsequent proceedings. “Despite its rights and ability to control and exercise approval over franchisees, 7-Eleven has failed to utilize this control to prevent and stop the counterfeiting and infringement of Pop Mart’s trademarks, trade dress, and copyrights,” the company stated in its complaint. Pop Mart is seeking a jury trial in the case.
Further information can be found here. (English)
