Country for PR: United States
Contributor: PR Newswire New York
Tuesday, March 15 2022 - 23:03
AsiaNet
Spin Master Wins Landmark IP Protection Victories in China
TORONTO, March 15, 2022 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --

Spin Master Corp. (TSX: TOY) (www.spinmaster.com), a leading global children's 
entertainment today announced several landmark IP protection case wins. The 
victories are a positive sign of China's commitment to tackle counterfeiting 
and IP infringement in the toy industry.

The cases include financial compensation following a win for Spin Master in a 
patent lawsuit against a Chinese company, as well as the first criminal 
judgment obtained for its popular PAW Patrol(R) cartoon series. The outcomes 
send a clear message that malicious infringement of IP rights will cost 
counterfeiters.

The cases further represent a crackdown on counterfeit toy products, which 
don't meet safety certification standards and could endanger children. The 
strong stances taken will have a lasting effect on the enforcement of IP rights 
in the region.

Spin Master also successfully protected its patent for the award-winning 
Bakugan(R) toys in a patent infringement lawsuit against a major local 
imitator. The infringer's 'Monster Hunter' toys closely mirrored the Bakugan 
series and, despite the infringer's attempts to delay the process of litigation 
over a number of years, Spin Master obtained a favourable final civil judgment. 
The patent related to Bakugan toys was also sustained.

Spin Master was awarded CNY 15.5 million (approx. 2.4 million USD) in damages, 
in a decision that demonstrated the Chinese Supreme People's Court is willing 
to take strong action. It serves as a warning for local IP infringers that the 
rights of multinationals, whether toy producers or manufacturers of other 
products, will be upheld in China.

Spin Master also successfully sought criminal action against counterfeiters 
across China, who had produced fake, unsafe toy merchandise for children in the 
region, selling them under the guise of being part of Spin Master's PAW Patrol 
line.

Several local counterfeiters were raided by police, resulting in product 
seizures and detention of suspects. Two individuals were sentenced to 
imprisonment and received monetary penalties. Prosecutions against other 
infringers are still undergoing.  

"These wins strengthen our confidence in China's IP protection environment and 
judicial regime," said Chris Harrs, Spin Master's General Counsel and Corporate 
Secretary. "Spin Master will continue exploring routes, including legal action, 
to protection our IP rights as well as consumers' interests."

Consumers may purchase the PAW Patrol series and other toys developed by Spin 
Master through authorized distribution channels in China, including Toys "R" Us 
and Spin Master official online flagship stores in Tmall and other platforms.

About Spin Master 
Spin Master Corp. (TSX:TOY) is a leading global children's entertainment 
company, creating exceptional play experiences through its three creative 
centres: Toys, Entertainment and Digital Games. With distribution in over 100 
countries, Spin Master is best known for award-winning brands PAW Patrol(R), 
Bakugan(R), Kinetic Sand(R), Air Hogs(R), Hatchimals(R), Rubik's Cube(R) and 
GUND(R), and is the global toy licensee for other popular properties. Spin 
Master Entertainment creates and produces compelling multiplatform content, 
through its in-house studio and partnerships with outside creators, including 
the preschool franchise PAW Patrol and numerous other original shows, 
short-form series and feature films. The Company has an established presence in 
digital games, anchored by the Toca Boca(R) and Sago Mini(R) brands, offering 
open-ended and creative game and educational play in digital environments. 
Through Spin Master Ventures, the Company makes minority investments globally 
in emerging companies and start-ups. With over 30 offices in close to 20 
countries, Spin Master employs more than 2,000 team members globally. For more 
information visit spinmaster.com [ 
https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3473073-1&h=1055212626&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.spinmaster.com%2F&a=spinmaster.com 
] or follow-on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @spinmaster.

Sophia Bisoukis, Vice President, Investor Relations, sophiab@spinmaster.com 

SOURCE  Spin Master Corp.