SYLVANIAN FAMILIES JAPANESE PRODUCER EPOCH WINS IP COURT CASE IN RUSSIA

Epoch Company is widely known as toy manufacturer from Japan. The famous “Sylvanian Families” toy characters are beloved, recognized and sold all over the world. No surprise that more and more rivals produce and sell similar toys.

In many parts of the world the huge popularity of “Sylvanian Families” invoked the production and sale of counterfeit goods by mala fide competitors. Similarly, several years ago, counterfeit toys produced in China and the USA appeared in the Russian market.

Recently, Epoch Company won one of the most long lasting and complex cases. After almost five years of legal proceedings, thanks to the excellent litigation work and professional perseverance of Patentica’s lawyers, the Supreme Court of Russia was convinced to secure Epoch’s victory in this litigation. Patentica protected Epoch’s interests via claiming compensations for the infringements of its exclusive rights on toys’ designs.

Many complicated questions became subjects of robust discussions in the court. For example, the plaintiff was forced to prove the originality of toys’ designs in comparison with “Maple Town” anime series characters. Besides, the defendants tried to protect themselves with the help of patents of the People’s Republic of China for industrial designs.

Patentica confirmed both originality and the very fact of creative work to be the background for the copyright protection causation for Epoch and its “Sylvanian Families”. Finally, Epoch won the case and all three defendants were obliged to pay compensation.