Russia’s famous animation studio, "Soyuzmultfilm," lost a lawsuit in the United States against the company LaRubInt Corp. According to the court ruling, the studio must compensate the American company for damages for using the Cheburashka character in Japan under a different license.
The root of the issue goes back to 2016. That year, "Soyuzmultfilm" sold LaRubInt Corp. the rights to use its cartoon characters in Japan, China, India, the USA, and Canada for $60,000. This agreement was valid until 2021.
However, just a month after the contract was signed, LaRubInt discovered that the Japanese company Cheburashka Project LLP was also selling products with the Cheburashka character under a license from "Soyuzmultfilm." This situation was regarded by the US court as a violation of the contract.
The court found that "Soyuzmultfilm" had violated the terms of the agreement and obligated it to reimburse damages to LaRubInt Corp. As a result, the famous Russian studio must now face international legal responsibility.
At the same time, the press service of "Soyuzmultfilm" stated that the contract was signed by previous management and that investigative actions are underway in Russia regarding this matter.
According to "Soyuzmultfilm" representatives, LaRubInt Corp.’s main goal was to demand royalties from Japanese companies, not to manufacture products. It is also claimed that these actions by LaRubInt were coordinated with the studio’s previous leadership.
This conflict also dates back to a 2005 agreement: at that time, the studio granted Japan's TV Tokyo Communications Corporation the right to use the Cheburashka image until 2014. After the contract expired, the Russian side considered it terminated, while the Japanese side assumed automatic extension.
Lawyers note that the US court’s decision must be officially recognized in Russia in order to take effect. Only then will financial obligations be enforced.
However, experts believe that this court dispute will not significantly affect the studio's licensing activity regarding the Cheburashka image. "Soyuzmultfilm" can continue to produce products, films, and merchandising projects based on this brand in the future.
Amid this dispute, another interesting news emerged: the second part of the famous film about Cheburashka is scheduled to premiere in cinemas starting January 1, 2026. This character remains relevant not only for children but also in the adult world.
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