A Pig in Wolf’s Clothing? Peppa Pig v Wolfoo cartoon – the Story of a Global IP Dispute
Niall Trainor, global head of IP at Entertainment One’s Family Brands division
Peppa Pig is a British preschool animated television series owned by Entertainment One, an international media distribution company. Launched in 2004, the show follows Peppa, an anthropomorphic female piglet, and her family in their daily activities. Now a multi-billion dollar brand broadcast in 180 countries, it is the most popular preschool brand globally. Its success has made it a ripe target for IP piracy, resulting in frequent litigation for IP infringement.
Last year, Entertainment One filed a claim in the UK High Court relating to a YouTube cartoon called “Wolfoo” created by Sconnect, a Vietnamese media production company. In just three years, Wolfoo viewership on YouTube exploded to over 2 billion monthly views, overtaking Peppa Pig viewership in the process. The dispute has since developed into a multi-territory battle, with various proceedings underway across three continents.
With the UK trial expected to take place later this year, Niall Trainor, global head of IP at Entertainment One’s Family Brands division, will discuss in detail the multifaceted legal principles in the case, including the issues of jurisdiction, targeting, passing off, copyright law and the application of EU trademark law in the UK Courts post-Brexit.
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