Blind-box rules, minors and consumer complaints.
Summaries are AI-generated
A federal judge dismissed a 13-count antitrust class action on Sept. 29, ruling plaintiffs failed to prove personal harm. Fanatics' acquisitions and exclusive deals were not substantively reviewed in this ruling.
Israeli firm May Patents is suing LEGO in the U.S. for allegedly infringing three patents with its SMART Play system. The dispute centers on the SMART Brick and SMART Charger, which are already used in Star Wars and Pokémon sets.
A new U.S.-China trade agreement aims to provide more favorable tariff treatment for $30 billion of non-sensitive goods in each direction. Toys, children's car seats, holiday decorations, and small appliances are among the categories expected to benefit.
The SAMR released six cases of illegal blind box operations, including false advertising and gambling violations. Reporters noted many cases involved livestreams with undisclosed secret probabilities and illegal gameplay like number stepping.
The SAMR released 6 typical cases of illegal blind box operations, including false ads for recharge, private payments after livestream referrals, blind box apps used for gambling, and sales of unverified blind bags near schools.
The SAIC released 6 cases involving false advertising, private domain fraud, and unqualified products, setting compliance boundaries for the industry.
The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) announced six cases of illegal blind box operations, involving false advertising, counterfeit products, and high spending by minors.
The SAIC released six cases involving false advertising, selling unverified products, and suspected online gambling. Lawyers warn that cashable or buyback blind boxes may constitute online gambling, urging consumers to avoid marketing traps and keep evidence for disputes.
The State Administration for Market Regulation released six cases of illegal blind box operations, involving false advertising, counterfeit goods, and inducement of high spending by minors.
KAYOU's IPO faces hurdles while new players like Suplay and Hitcard seek funding. The industry is shifting from low-price cards to high-value collectibles, with Chinese brands gaining an edge overseas.
Funko reported net sales of $200.9 million and a net loss of $18.1 million for Q1 2026, narrowing from the prior year. Cash and cash equivalents fell to $34.3 million, but operating cash flow turned positive. The company amended its credit agreement, extending loan maturities to December 31, 2027.
Kayou's prospectus expired on the HKEX website, marking its second failed IPO attempt after January 2024. Despite strong financial performance and leading market share, the company faces regulatory pressure due to its 'gambling-like' business model and concerns over minor protection.
Dreams USA has secured two preliminary injunctions against alleged infringers of its trademarked and copyrighted Sonny Angel®, HIPPERS®, and Smiski® products in the U.S. market. The company is actively policing and pursuing legal action against various infringers, including kiosk operators, C-store owners, and social media sellers, to protect authorized distributors and prevent consumers from purchasing unauthorized and inferior products.
52TOYS filed for a Hong Kong IPO on May 22, targeting a Main Board listing, with Citi and Huatai International as joint sponsors. According to the prospectus, 52TOYS is China's second-largest multi-category IP toy company by 2024 GMV. The company relies mainly on licensed IPs, with sales of licensed products rising from 50.2% in 2022 to 64.5% in 2024, but high licensing costs result in lower gross margins than POP MART.
The SAMR released a draft guideline on Aug 16, proposing rules on food sales, age restrictions, pricing, and secret reveal probabilities.
The Legal Daily reports regulatory gaps in the blind box market, citing illegal pet blind boxes, youth overspending, and opaque hidden item probabilities, and calls for legislation.
Happinet, a core distributor of Bandai Namco, has achieved strong earnings growth driven by core products like Pokémon and One Piece trading cards, and the expansion of its gashacoco capsule toy store network. The company maintains a high dividend payout ratio and shareholder benefits program, with an ROE around 17%. The analysis highlights risks including dependence on specific IPs, changes in manufacturer distribution channels, and rising logistics costs.
Beijing POP MART filed a lawsuit against Shanghai Shanghaimeng Information Technology and an individual, with the trial scheduled for October 28, 2026, at the Changning District People's Court in Shanghai.
AmiAmi announced that, starting in late June 2026, it will implement BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification) so that its official logo appears in the inbox of supported email services. Combined with SPF, DKIM and DMARC authentication, the measure aims to make it easier for customers to verify legitimate emails and reduce phishing risks.
Blokees collaborated with market regulators in Guangdong, Zhejiang, and other provinces to shut down 15 fake sellers in 2025, targeting counterfeit Otameiden figures and tampered blind boxes. The official mini-program now features a verification function allowing users to check 16-digit anti-counterfeiting codes and full-case configurations.
A news story about an ACG girl hospitalized due to badge storage sparked widespread concern. Subsequent posts claimed merch contains formaldehyde and benzene. Marketing accounts spread rumors, causing conflicts between parents and players, and even fabricated videos, raising health and public opinion concerns in the ACG community.
