Pop Mart sues 7-Eleven for selling counterfeit Labubu Toys

The Chinese company Pop Mart, specializing in the production of collectible figurines, filed a lawsuit in the US federal court against the American chain of 7-Eleven stores and eight of its franchise partners in California. The reason for the trial was the distribution of counterfeit products that outwardly imitate the popular Labubu toy series, which became a global cultural phenomenon in the first half of 2025.

According to the lawsuit, 7-Eleven outlets sold toys whose packaging and design almost completely repeat the original Pop Mart products. Representatives of the plaintiff insist that it is a question of systematic copyright infringement, as well as illegal use of registered trademarks of the company. In particular, the manufacturer emphasizes that the branded elements of the Labubu image-including the characteristic nine-toothed smile, pointed ears and four-toed limbs-are objects of legal protection and the result of many years of marketing and design work.

Counterfeit versions, which were informally named Lafufu (from the phrase fake Labubu) on the Internet, were distributed without a license, but at the same time retained a visual similarity that could mislead buyers. This caused a negative reaction among both consumers and collectors, who formed a loyal fan base of the brand.

Labubu has become a key character in Pop Mart's collection lines and has quickly become an international trend. The visual style of the character is actively used in social networks, in the fashion industry, and in advertising campaigns. Hashtags mentioning Labubu attract millions of publications, and the demand for limited series of figurines stimulates the secondary market and increases the price of rare copies.

The Labubu figurine has acquired the status of a cultural symbol among fans of designer toys, and has also become an integral attribute of bloggers, celebrities and fashion influencers. The popularity of the brand, according to Pop Mart itself, contributed to the growth of its financial indicators: the company expects an increase in profit by 350% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year.

The lawsuit in the US court reflects Pop Mart's strategy of international protection of its intellectual property. As global interest in designer toys grows and the market is saturated with Asian products, the fight against counterfeiting is becoming a critical task for brands working at the intersection of art, fashion and mass culture. The case also illustrates the growing importance of visual content as a commercially valuable form of creative capital in a transnational economy.