Labubu Boo-Boo
This past Christmas was great. Leading up to the big day, I was able to watch some of my favorite Christmas movies, including “Jingle all the Way.”
The film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad, a pair of devoted fathers who will stop at nothing to buy their kids the year’s hottest toy – a Turbo Man doll – for Christmas. Hilarity ensues as they wrestle one another and sabotage each other in an attempt to snag the doll.
The hottest toy this holiday season may have been Labubu dolls.
Inspired by Nordic folklore, the collectibles are based on characters from Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung’s book “The Monsters Trilogy” and are produced by Pop Mark. The elf-like creatures are known for their distinctive features like large eyes, pointed ears, and a mischievous grin with nine visible teeth. They inhabit Nordic forests and “love a bit of harmless mischief but have hearts of gold.”
Many Labubus are sold in blind boxes, adding an element of surprise and excitement for collectors. The dolls have become a global phenomenon, with fans collecting various designs, sizes, and limited-edition releases. The toys generated more than $420 million in revenue in 2024, with $34 million coming from the U.S. While they normally retail for under $30, some rare variants can fetch thousands of dollars online.
Because of their popularity, Labubu dolls have inspired knockoffs, dubbed Lafufus, which are allegedly unsafe.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recently issued an “urgent safety warning” saying that the counterfeit Labubus “pose a serious risk of choking and death to young children.” According to the agency, the fakes, which are sold both as dolls and as small keychains, can fit in a small child’s mouth and block their airway. In addition, they assert that the imposters are so poorly made that they can break into small pieces that are a choking hazard.
“These fake Labubu dolls are dangerous, illegal and have no place in American homes,” CPSC Acting Chairman Peter Feldman said in a statement. “No parent should have to wonder if a toy will stop their child from breathing. Protect your children and buy only from reputable sellers.”
When trying to determine if a Labubu is a knockoff, the CSPC says the first indicator is price. If the cost sounds too good to be true, it probably is. They also advise consumers to look for a holographic Pop Mart sticker and scannable QR code to identify a real Labubu. Newer authentic Labubus also bear what the CPSC describes as a discrete UV stamp on one foot. Authentic Labubus have nine teeth, while fakes may have a different number. Finally, knockoffs may also be brighter than the real dolls, according to the CPSC.
Pop Mart actually sued 7-Eleven Inc. and seven of its California convenience stores, alleging the retailers are selling Lafufus. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California’s Western Division, states, “Pop Mart has discovered that, as the Labubu dolls’ popularity exploded, 7-Eleven locations began offering counterfeit versions of many Pop Mart products.” Echoing the CPSC’s warning, Pop Mart further declares, “the 7-Eleven products are of inferior quality, but they use identical or virtually identical copies of Pop Mart’s trademarks, trade dress and product and packaging design.”
Pop Mart is requesting an injuction to prevent 7-Eleven and others from selling the counterfeit Labubu dolls or any other goods with imitations of the Pop Mart marks and to recall any imitators immediately. They are also seeking monetary damages.
So, if you shopped for Labubus this holiday season, I hope you got the real thing.
Reg P. Wydeven
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