Hong Kong Designer's Character "Labubu" Faces IP Strategy Challenges in Europe, Complex Trademark and Design Registration Issues Emerge

The Austrian Patent Office introduced on September 1 the global popularity expansion of the character "Labubu" created by Hong Kong designer Kasing Lung and the challenges of intellectual property protection. Labubu is a blind box toy sold by Chinese company POP MART, which gained explosive popularity after being featured by Lisa of K-pop group "BLACKPINK" in April 2024. POP MART applied for the "LABUBU" trademark with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in September 2024 (application number 1819536), but a Turkish company has filed an opposition claiming potential confusion with their trademark "BUBU". Meanwhile, an Italian company's application for "LABUBU" has also raised complex trademark registration issues across Europe.

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