Vietnamese animation studio is compensated in copyright dispute in Russia
The latest development of the copyright dispute between two animated character sets Wolfoo (owned by Sconnect Vietnam) and Peppa Pig (owned by Entertainment One UK Limited in the United Kingdom – referred to as eOne or EO for short). information by Sconnect Vietnam.
Previously, on November 10, 2022, a judge of the Moscow City Court (Russian Federation) issued a ruling to partially accept Sconnect Vietnam’s request for the collection of legal fees in civil case No. 473/2022. Specifically, the Court will collect from plaintiff eOne and return to defendant Sconnect an amount of RUB 240,000. This is the amount of compensation for a part of the costs that Sconnect had to pay to participate in the lawsuit filed by eOne in the Moscow Court in January 2022.
The copyright dispute between eOne and Sconnect took place from November 2021, when eOne repeatedly copyrighted Wolfoo videos on YouTube. Then, on January 11, 2022, eOne filed a lawsuit against Sconnect at the Moscow Court (Russian Federation) alleging: The Wolfoo character set is a remake of the Peppa Pig character set; Illegally posting and disseminating on the Internet derivative works – ie Wolfoo animated videos. EOne also asked the Court to protect the exclusive rights to Peppa Pig cartoon character sets in the form of an Injunction against the creation of technical conditions, support for illegal performance, illegal distribution and use. of the characters of the animated film Peppa Pig (including characters Peppa Pig, George Pig, Mummy Pig, Daddy Pig) in the form of remade characters Wolfoo, Lucy, Miss Wolf, Mister Wolf, in 2 videos are posted on YouTube.
On June 14, 2022, Russia’s Council of Cultural and Artistic Experts, after comparative analysis of the Wolfoo character set and the Peppa Pig character set, concluded: “The Wolfoo character set is a unique creation. Completely created and not a remake, derivative of the Peppa Pig Character Set”. This result affirms that Wolfoo is an independent intellectual property product in terms of both scientific and technical creativity and legal value.
After the conclusion of the Council of Russian Art Experts, on July 7, 2022, eOne filed to withdraw all requests to sue in Russia. On the same day, the Moscow Court issued a decision to terminate the case, and also stated that all parties including eOne “are not allowed to claim, sue that Wolfoo is a remake of Peppa Pig”.
After eOne withdrew the lawsuit on its own, in August 2022, Sconnect filed a counter-suit against eOne in the Moscow Court asking eOne to compensate for the losses caused by eOne as a result of the lawsuit. The Moscow court heard for 3 sessions, then ruled to partially accept Sconnect’s claims and ordered eOne to pay 240,000 RUB to the Russian Court to compensate Wolfoo’s “father”.
Currently, the “father” of two world-famous cartoon characters is suing each other in the courts of the United Kingdom and Vietnam. Specifically, on January 24, 2022, eOne filed a lawsuit against Sconnect Vietnam to the High Court in London alleging: Sconnect infringing copyright: Remake Peppa Pig character set; Using Peppa Pig cartoon art style; Using the typical sounds of Peppa Pig cartoons;… with a list of 91 Wolfoo videos; Unfair Competition: Confusing that Wolfoo and Peppa Pig are the same creator; Peppa Pig trademark infringement.
On August 19, 2022, Sconnect filed a lawsuit against eOne at the People’s Court of Hanoi. Sconnect accused eOne of illegally using the Wolfoo trademark in Peppa Pig videos; at the same time, requesting the Court to consider the ruling forcing eOne to stop the acts of trademark infringement, correct information, and publicly apologize.
On September 14, 2022, Sconnect continued to file a lawsuit against eOne to the Hanoi People’s Court for the 2nd case. Sconnect sued eOne for copyright infringement on animated movies, Wolfoo applied art work; request eOne to stop the infringement and compensate for the damage.
