Update | Disney wins China copyright suit over Cars knock-off
The Autobots took the design of Disney’s Cars series, constituting ‘unfair competition,’ a Shanghai court says
A Shanghai court handed Walt Disney Co. a legal victory against two Chinese companies over a copyright dispute, ruling that their animation feature The Autobots had knocked off the Hollywood hit Cars produced by Disney’s Pixar studios.
The court ordered the Chinese companies Blue MTV and Beijing G-Point to pay Disney a combined 1.35 million yuan (US$194,244) in damages for copyright infringements and unfair competition.
“The animated car characters of The Autobots have similar eyes, mouth and colours, matching those of Cars, and therefore the defendants have infringed the copyright of the plaintiff,” the Shanghai Pudong New Area People’s Court said in a ruling published on its website.
Trademark disputes in China have been a bone of contention for many foreign brands and trademarks for decades.
Chinese clothing maker Tingfei Long Sporting Goods Co. launched a premium clothing brand in May called Uncle Martian, featuring a logo that resembled Under Armour, compelling the Baltimore-based sporting goods company to launch a US$15 million trademark suit against the Chinese copycat.
Disney itself is no stranger to copyright infringements in China, with its popular Mickey Mouse and other classic cartoon characters the subject of much emulation.