Sanrio, Mercis Settle lawsuit, donate to the efforts of Quake

Sanrio and the Dutch company Mercis jointly announced on Tuesday that they settled their dispute over the nature of Sanrio Kathy (photo right) and the character of Dick Bruna Miffy (right photo) out of court. Sanrio had already left by the character Kathy in new products (including products with license) of November 2009.

Last November, an Amsterdam Court ruled that the character of Japanese rabbit the Kathy was "too similar" an imitation of rabbit of Dick Bruna Miffy (Nijntje) and ordered Sanrio leave make and sell articles according to Kathy in Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg. Sanrio then appealed the ruling, stating that it was not infringement of copyright or trademark and asking the Miffy brand, be revoked.

Both companies announced in the press release that they agreed that after March 11 disaster of great earthquake Japan East (Higashi Nihon plain) that the money spent on demand could be better spent to Japan "rehabilitate and rebuild". Therefore, the companies decided to withdraw its legal action and donate 150,000 euros (about 17.5 billion yen or US $220,000).

Bruna also drew a picture of Miffy (pictured left) to express its condolences to Japan in connection with the accident at the nuclear power plant, earthquake and tsunami.

Kathy (also written as Cathy) is one of the most prominent character of Sanrio, Hello Kitty friends. Kathy appeared in the series of anime series Hello Kitty and friends, that ADV Films released in North America.

[Via Tadashi Sudo]
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