2014 Typical trademark cases in China
(China Intellectual Property)
Updated: 2015-06-26

3. Angry Birds

Angry Birds is a touch-screen video game created by Finnish computer game developer Rovio Entertainment (Rovio). It has simple plots, but even experienced players are able to find plenty of fun in it. After the great success of Angry Birds in China, any products related thereto also became popular, side effecting extensive copycat products and activities due to lack of authorization. In March 2014, Rovio filed a total of 15 infringement lawsuits in Nanning Intermediate People’s Court, including 5 trademark and 10 copyright infringement cases. Rovio alleged that it found a Guangxi-based real estate developer and its subsidiary hotel operate an adventure theme park called “Angry Birds” within their premises without any permission from Rovio. According to Rovio, posters, tickets and manuals of park activities and schedules are all printed with multiple roles of “Angry Birds”, which are also seen on walls, entrances and posters of the park. In addition, giant images based on the roles of “Angry Birds” are also erected in the park. Rovio alleged that the real estate developer and its subsidiary hotel have committed infringement upon its exclusive rights to use the registered trademarks and its copyright of relevant artistic works, and requested the court to order the defendants to immediately stop infringement and pay over 600,000 yuan in compensation for its economic losses. Nanning Intermediate People’s Court accepted the case and obtained, upon request from Rovio, the relevant evidence from the local administration for industry and commerce over investigations of the theme park. After several rounds of communications, the real estate developer agreed to settle the dispute through negotiations. Under the conciliation of the court, the two sides reached a mediation agreement and signed the paper of civil mediation in November 2014.



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