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Bandai Wins Gundam Knockoff Suit Vs. Chinese Company
posted on by Gia Manry
The Japanese media and toy company Bandai successfully sued the Chinese toy manufacturer Hongli for violating its trademarks with toys that closely resembled the designs in Bandai's Mobile Suit Gundam and BB Senshi Sangokuden plastic models. Bandai filed the suit in November of 2009.
As a result, Hongli issued a public apology to Bandai, via an ad in the May 13 edition of the 21st Century Business News newspaper. The Chinese court also ordered Hongli to pay damages and Bandai's legal fees totaling 820,000 yuan (about 10 million yen or US$130,000), and to stop sales of the offending goods.
Hongli appealed the original ruling, but the Beijing High Court upheld the ruling on December 17, 2010. In addition to the apology, Bandai is still working to ensure that the rest of the ruling is carried out.
Last year, the unrelated Floraland (Chengdu Guosetianxiang) Park housed a 15-meter-tall orange statue that closely resembled the first Gundam mobile suit robot. The park responded to criticism about the statue by stating that it was not a Gundam copy, then denying its existence, and finally modifying the statue.
Source: Inside Games
Images © Sotsu, Sunrise
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