It’s an ongoing process that’s seen LEGO chase copycat companies across the globe, but nowhere has it been more of a problem than in China. Chinese Police have busted a group making Lepin – one of the many LEGO copycats – which not only infringes upon the LEGO IP but also on a number of Disney IP’s as well.
Knock-off toys were being copied from Lego blueprints and sent to a factory in Shenzhen to be manufactured before they were sold all over China, according to police.
Lego Star Wars was named Star Plan, and sets which coincided with the Lego Movie 2 were copied and sold as the Lepin Bricks 2.
Foreign companies believe intellectual property rights are not enforced strongly enough in China where counterfeiting is rampant.
The knock-offs are popular in China with a small Lepin set selling for $3 (£2) a box, whereas similar Lego sets go for at least $15 (£11).
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