An exhibition featuring Labubu is held in Beijing on June 18 , 2025. Photo: VCG

China Customs has seized more than 40,000 suspected counterfeit products featuring "Labubu," a popular character under Chinese toymaker Pop Mart, in a move that underscores the country's efforts to protect intellectual property rights and ensure fair market competition at home and abroad, according to China Custom's WeChat account.

The seized items—spanning blind box figures, plush toys, stationery and cosmetics—were intercepted at various customs points across the country. Following confirmation from the trademark owner, the shipments were determined to have violated registered trademark or copyright protections and have been detained or transferred for further legal processing.

Among the intercepted blind box figures, Shanghai Post Customs discovered 301 Labubu toys labeled with "POP MART" during an inspection of international parcels. Ningbo Meishan Customs uncovered 17,200 similar toys in a shipment, while Jeminay Customs in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region seized 7,800 blind box figures bearing the trademark on July 16. 

In the plush toy category, Shenzhen Sungang Customs found 2,167 dolls whose appearance closely resembled Labubu, though they did not bear the brand's trademark. Youyiguan Customs seized 242 plush toys with the "POP MART" logo in a cross-border e-commerce shipment, noting poor manufacturing quality. Ningbo Beilun Customs intercepted 14,802 items—including plush toys and figurines—bearing the name "Labubu," which were later confirmed to infringe on the brand's copyrights.

Ningbo Beilun Customs also seized three shipments containing undeclared notebooks, lip glosses, and perfumes decorated with Labubu imagery. A total of 5,100 notebooks, 11,480 lip glosses and 31,480 perfume bottles were determined to be infringing the IPR. Separately, Shibali Customs under Manzhouli Customs intercepted 4,608 squishy toys and 1,410 imitation blind box figures using the Labubu design. These were likewise confirmed as counterfeits by the IPR holder.

Zhang Yi, CEO of iiMedia Research Institute, told the Global Times on Tuesday the rise of counterfeit goods targeting Chinese original intellectual property (IP) reflects both growing global influence and the urgent need for stricter enforcement. The recent seizures demonstrate China's continued efforts to strengthen IPR protection at the borders and support the international credibility of innovative domestic brands.

According to China's Customs Law, customs authorities shall protect intellectual property rights related to inbound and outbound goods in accordance with the law. Where goods that infringe upon intellectual property rights protected by the laws or administrative regulations of China are imported or exported in violation of regulations, customs authorities shall confiscate the infringing goods in accordance with the law and impose a fine; if a crime is constituted, criminal liability shall be investigated according to the law.

Global Times