Toymaker Hasbro Sues Over Knockoff Tops

Toymaker Hasbro Inc. has sued several individuals and companies it claims are responsible for producing a knockoff version of one of its most popular products, Beyblade spinning tops. The nation's second largest toymaker filed suit in U.S. District Court in Boston, charging copyright and trademark infringement and seeking three times the profits and damages resulting from the deliberate use of the company's registered trademarks.

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Toymaker Hasbro Inc. has sued several individuals and companies it claims are responsible for producing a knockoff version of one of its most popular products, Beyblade spinning tops. The nation’s second largest toymaker behind Mattel Inc. filed suit on Jan. 9 in U.S. District Court in Boston, charging copyright and trademark infringement and unfair competition in connection with alleged copies of the Beyblade tops. The suit names Perfect Deal LLC and Market Point Group LLC and individuals Amit Raibi and Daniel Cohen as defendants. The suit said the two men are presidents of the two Florida companies. The defendants have not yet filed responses to the complaint in federal court. A phone message left at the companies’ shared office in Miami was not immediately returned. “It’s all about protecting our intellectual property. Knockoffs are unfortunately something that happens and Hasbro has been aggressive in defending its intellectual property,” said Hasbro spokesman Wayne Charness. The suit asks that the defendants be stopped from producing and selling the toys and using the Beyblade character images and names. It also seeks the defendants’ profits, as well as the company’s damages, and asks for three times the profits and damages resulting from the deliberate use of the company’s registered trademarks. The amount in controversy, Hasbro said, exceeds more than $75,000, which is an amount that would help establish the Boston court’s jurisdiction in the matter. Charness said Hasbro’s tops that users customize have been on the market for about a year and a half and have been very popular. Hasbro also filed suit recently against the creator of Ghettopoly, a version of the company’s Monopoly game. The lawsuit against David Chang of Saint Marys, Pa., is pending in U.S. District Court in Providence, R.I. It alleges Ghettopoly has unlawfully mimicked Monopoly’s packaging and logos, and has created “irreparable injury” to Hasbro’s goodwill and reputation. Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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