London, UK - Outfit7, creators of the Talking Tom and Talking Friends franchise have appointed Baker & McKenzie to act as its Intellectual Property rights enforcement firm.
Baker & McKenzie is charged with protecting the IP of Outfit7’s successful Talking Friends franchise as the Cyprus-based entertainment company expands globally and plans to introduce more innovative apps and merchandise.
“Our global strategy is to provide Talking Friends fans with a succession of innovative, original, multi-media products and merchandise, so it is important that they only receive the genuine article produced by our official licensees and partners and that we prevent the counterfeit products confusing the market,” said Samo Login, Outfit7’s Founder and CEO.
“Talking Friends is hugely popular in China, with the apps receiving millions of downloads. China is also one of the largest producers of our official merchandise as well as unfortunately producing fake Talking Friends products that are then distributed globally. By hiring Baker & McKenzie’s expert IP rights enforcement team we will be able to prohibit the production of copycat mobile apps and fake merchandise, and protect the value of the market opportunity for our growing portfolio of licensees.”
Outfit7’s Talking Friends franchise has become a global phenomenon achieving one billion downloads since its launch in July 2010 and 170 million active users monthly. Now one of the world’s fastest growing entertainment companies, Outfit7 has taken its innovative and fun characters from the mobile arena to video, web shorts, music, toys and games.
To date the official Talking Friends license offering includes toys, stationery, apparel, fashion accessories, home fashion and mobile phone covers. The Talking Friends Superstar Toys connect with the mobile apps to provide an innovative new toy experience. Current licensees include interalia Dragon-I Toys, Smith & Brooks Limited, Parragon, TVM Europe Gmbh, Van Der Erve N.V., GB EYE LTD and London Europe Group Ltd.
“While we are clamping down on counterfeit goods we are ramping up our search for licensees to provide original and fun merchandise for our millions of fans worldwide,” Login said. Merchandise is available at major distribution outlets around the world and a selection of some of the official merchandise is available online at www.talkingfriends.com
Baker & McKenzie has been appointed to protect the intellectual property rights of the Talking Friends franchise. Its core team, based in Hong Kong, will be IP advisers, providing strategic advice as well as hands-on solutions for the protection and enforcement of the Talking Friends brand in Greater China, one of Talking Friends’ fastest growing markets. Their work will then be extended to other regions to protect the best interest of Outfit7’s global partners and consumers.
Baker & McKenzie’s responsibilities will range from registration of IP rights to enforcement through civil and criminal action.
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