August 3, 2025: Chinese authorities are conducting a widespread crackdown on intellectual property (IP) theft, seizing thousands of counterfeit “Lafufu” dolls, which are fake versions of the popular Labubu collectibles. The enforcement action is part of a national strategy to protect domestic brands and the country’s burgeoning ‘trendy play’ industry, according to a report in The Washington Post.
The operation specifically targets the counterfeit versions of the highly sought-after Labubu dolls, which are owned by Chinese toy giant Pop Mart. Authorities are focusing their efforts on disrupting the manufacturing and sales of these fakes through e-commerce and cross-border channels.
This move is intended to serve several key purposes: to protect consumers from fraudulent products, to bolster the value of authentic collectibles sold in the popular ‘blind box’ format, and to enhance China’s international reputation on intellectual property protection.