ME NewsWire/ Business Wire
LONDON - Thursday, February 20th 2014
Outfit7, the entertainment company behind the global phenomenon Talking Tom and Friends, today sends a forceful message to companies producing counterfeit products with the news of its legal win against Chinese app company, NanJing oooo3d Ltd.
Outfit7’s attorneys, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP filed the lawsuit in January 2013 in response to NanJing oooo3d illegally publishing apps that claimed to be sequels to the original Talking Tom and Friends franchise – developed and owned by Outfit7. Unlawfully profiting from the success of Outfit7’s app series with its counterfeit apps, Talking Tom 3 and Talking Tom 4, NanJing oooo3d has been ordered to pay compensation to Outfit7 for the loss of goodwill and significant value suffered to the brand.
In one of the first lawsuits filed in the US courts against mobile app IP infringement, NanJing oooo3d has been found guilty of copying the Talking Tom virtual character and look and feel of the globally successfulTalking Tom mobile apps. The Chinese counterfeiter has been permanently prohibited from manufacturing, distributing, or promoting any counterfeit merchandise bearing the Talking Tom or Talking Friendstrademark. Furthermore, due to the misuse of Outfit7’s trademarks and copyright, NanJing oooo3d is enjoined from using any language or images that could cause consumers to believe that their products are in any way affiliated or connected with those of Outfit7.
“Innovation, unique characters and high-value entertainment are fundamental to the success of our brands,” said Samo Login, Founder and CEO, Outfit7. “We’ve invested heavily in our research and development to ensure our products are market leaders and, as such, we will do whatever it takes to protect our IP. We always have the best interest of our consumers at heart and their protection against counterfeit products that do not comply with either privacy or health and safety regulations is of paramount importance to us.”
Further to the lawsuit against NanJing oooo3d, Outfit7 is focusing on additional areas of IP enforcement. Baker & McKenzie, heavyweights in IP protection and anti-counterfeiting, have been brought on board to represent Outfit7’s products in Greater China. Offering strategic advice to Outfit7 and its global partners and consumers, Baker & McKenzie will work with local authorities to limit unlawful production and exportation of counterfeit products in China.
In addition to the litigation case against NanJing oooo3d, Outfit7 is actively cooperating with global app stores including Google Play, iTunes and Window Phone Store, among others in the fight against IP infringement in mobile app space and has successfully removed in excess of 80 counterfeit apps published on such distribution platforms.
Talking Tom is the lead character from Outfit7’s Talking Tom and Friends franchise, launched in 2010. Talking Tom achieved record-breaking acclaim when it became the fastest growing entertainment app series of all time. Talking Tom and Friends, which now includes six characters and 14 apps, has since become a global entertainment phenomenon, helping Outfit7 achieve 1.5 billion downloads in over 230 territories worldwide.
Now Talking Tom and Friends extends from mobile apps to chart-topping YouTube singles, an animated web series, innovative merchandise and a soon-to-be released TV series.
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About Outfit7
Best known for its global phenomenon Talking Tom, Outfit7 is one of the fastest-growing media entertainment companies on the planet.
Outfit7 was founded by a group of entrepreneurs in 2009 whose mission is to bring fun and entertainment to all. Its flagship app franchise Talking Tom and Friends has achieved over 1.5 billion downloads since its launch in 2010 and continues to grow with 230 million active users each month.
Talking Tom and Friends are unique fully animated 3D animal characters who love to be petted and played with through an array of in-app user functions. Each with their own distinct personality, Talking Tom, Talking Angela, Talking Ginger, Talking Ben, Talking Pierre and Talking Gina are fully-interactive and can engage in two-way conversations with users. Fans can even create and share videos of interactions with their favorite characters via Facebook and YouTube.
The popular characters started life in the digital world and now Talking Tom and Friends extend from mobile apps to chart-topping YouTube singles, animated web series, innovative merchandise and a soon to be released TV series.
Out Fit 7 Limited is a global company with offices and subsidiaries in London, England; Ljubljana, Slovenia; Limassol, Cyprus; Seoul, South Korea; and Palo Alto, USA.
For more information, please visit www.Outfit7.com and www.talkingtom.com or visit our Facebook, Twitter or YouTube pages.
Contacts
Outfit7
Cassie Chandler
E: cassie.chandler@outfit7.com
T: +44 (0) 20 7432 4564
M: +44 (0) 7772 882 082
www.outfit7.com
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