Spin Master have been awarded $2.2 million in their long-running patent dispute against a prominent toy producer in China. The award is a record amount for a foreign patent owner.
The Suzhou Intermediate Peoples’ Court found Guangzhou Lingdong Creative Culture Technology Ltd had infringed on Spin Master’s patents on its Bakugan children’s toy line.
This is Spin Master’s second major IP victory in China. In November they successfully argued a trade mark infringement case where the defendants were selling counterfeit versions of Spin Master’s Hatchimals products on Alibaba and other platforms.
It was the first successful private criminal prosecution in Chinese IP history. The three individuals were sentenced to three years’ imprisonment and the companies were fined.
Spin Master were advised throughout both cases by Chinese law firm Lusheng, part of the Rouse network. Rouse is the leading international IP firm specialized in China, the ASEAN region and emerging markets globally.