Pop Mart (泡泡玛特) Reportedly Sent Two Notices Before Suing Bambu Lab’s Tuozhu (拓竹) Over Alleged IP Infringement

What happened

Pop Mart (泡泡玛特) has filed a lawsuit against Bambu Lab’s Shenzhen entity, Shenzhen Tuozhu Innovation Technology Co., Ltd. (深圳市拓竹创新科技有限公司, commonly referred to as “Tuozhu,” 拓竹), after reportedly sending two formal letters demanding action over alleged intellectual property infringements. It has been reported that the dispute centers on user-uploaded 3D models on Bambu Lab’s MakerWorld platform that resemble Pop Mart’s popular designer-toy characters. The letters allegedly sought takedowns and remedial measures; when talks failed to resolve the matter, Pop Mart moved to sue. Neither side has publicly disclosed detailed claims or a court timetable.

Why it matters

This pits one of China’s most recognizable “blind box” brands against a fast-rising 3D-printing champion. Pop Mart popularized collectible art toys—think Molly, Skullpanda, and Dimoo—by turning character IP into mass-market culture. Bambu Lab, through Tuozhu, is a Shenzhen-based hardware star whose high-speed printers and MakerWorld file-sharing community have helped mainstream at-home fabrication. The collision is clear: where does fan creativity end and infringement begin, especially when platforms scale and monetize user content?

Legal and industry context

China’s IP regime has tightened in recent years, with the E-Commerce Law and Copyright Law establishing notice-and-takedown rules and potential platform liability if operators “know or should know” of infringement yet fail to act. Maker platforms face a familiar global dilemma—akin to DMCA practices in the United States—balancing safe-harbor protections with proactive moderation. Pop Mart has a track record of aggressively defending its IP in China’s vast designer-toy market. MakerWorld, for its part, reportedly features creator incentives and discovery tools that can amplify popular models, raising the stakes for swift and accurate rights management.

What’s next

If the court grants an injunction or finds liability, Tuozhu could be pushed to strengthen content screening and takedown workflows, while rights holders may seek clearer licensing paths for fan-made 3D prints. A negotiated settlement remains possible. In the meantime, the case will be closely watched by China’s creator platforms and global 3D-printing communities alike. The initial details come via Chinese media reports citing unnamed sources; further filings and official statements will determine the contours—and precedents—of this platform-versus-IP showdown.