COPYRIGHT- LEGO AND BELA

Photo credit: lego.com

Photo credit: brickmy.com

Lego has won a landmark copyright case in China against rival products almost identical to its famous coloured toy bricks. The imitation products were manufactured under the name Bela and sold by two Chinese companies. The victory follows an earlier ruling that Lego's name and logo are well-known trademarks in China.

The vice president of legal affairs in the Lego Group stated that the latest ruling was "a strong indication of the continued focus on proper intellectual property protection and enforcement by the Chinese courts"."We think this is very important for the continued development of a favourable business environment for all companies operating in the Chinese market."

The court ruling was issued in September but did not take effect until November when the appeal window ended.

News credit: BBC News