Chinese company Pop Mart, the intellectual property (IP) manager for the popular art toy character Labubu, is pursuing legal action against food retailers using the character without authorization.
“Pop Mart is going to be taking the necessary legal action to stop the unauthorized usage of Labubu and The Monsters to protect the artist’s and also Pop Mart’s interests,” said Kevin Zhang, Pop Mart International’s head of strategic partnerships. “If we do not take action, we are hurting our future brand partners.”
Labubu-themed food products. Photo from Instagram |
Ji Xiang, a Singaporean confectionery, started selling “ang ku kueh”—a Chinese sweet dumpling—shaped like Labubu after fulfilling a 10-piece custom order in September, according to The Straits Times.
However, after being notified of Pop Mart’s legal plans, Ji Xiang’s co-owner, Kelvin Toh, stopped production of the Labubu-themed dumplings on Nov. 18.
Toh explained: “I am relieved that we can stop making the custom “ang ku kueh” because it is a lot of work. It was more for marketing purposes and publicity, and not for revenue.”
Similarly, Peony Jade, a Cantonese restaurant, pulled its dark chocolate buns shaped like Zimomo, another character from Labubu’s “The Monsters” series, shortly after launching them.
The restaurant removed all related social media posts and stopped sales of the buns, priced at $19.50 for a set of threeon Nov. 18, offering refunds and canceling pre-orders.
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Blackpink’s Lisa with a Labubu doll in April 2024. Photo from Instagram |
Labubu, created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, is part of The Monsters series, which includes characters like Zimomo, Tycoco, Spooky, and Pato.
Labubu gained significant international attention in 2024 after K-pop star Lisa from Blackpink posted photos of her Labubu collectibles, boosting the character’s global popularity.
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