Lepin: End Game (?) LEPIN Boss Arrested, Factories Closed by Shanghai Police.

[Yukari]

https://customizeminifiguresintelli...arrested-factories-closed-by-shanghai-police/

Shangai Police through its Weibo posting announced a successful operation in cracking down a organization that responsible for producing counterfeits LEGO products. The leader with surname Li had been arrested. Based on the photos posted the brand in question was LEPIN. And LEPIN was own by Meizhi whose boss is 李海鹏 （Li HaiPeng).

A check on Taobao and we found most LEPIN retailers had withdrew their listings. Some retailers said the warehouses had been raided and goods confiscated by authority. A day that LEGO fans had waited to happen for 3 years. This would be the third time Shanghai Police laid their hands on counterfeit toy makers in located in Shantou. Previously DragonMomoko and Daban who made clones of Bandai Gundam fallen in the hands of Shanghai Police force. Despite Shantou was in Guangzhou, a different jurisdiction, that didn't stop Shanghai Police to take action. Based on updated weibo post, 4 individuals arrested, 630,000 boxes of LEPIN confiscateded. The amount involved was RMB two billions (USD 29 million). Below are links to the weibo.https://www.weibo.com/2493592183/HrnZl5s3Ahttps://www.weibo.com/2493592183/Hro8Z9Tu4

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Fon now,i guess?
I heard Parent Company (Guangdong Loongon) just make new factory few month ago.

 

[kami_sama]

Well, no more fake Lego sets from taobao for me.
(not that I bought any lol)

 

[Akira86]

LEPIN........The Third

 

[ShadowAUS]

Looks like no more cheap Star Wars Lego copies for my family's gifts. Ah well, was bound to happen eventually.

 

[Yukari]

Well, no more fake Lego sets from taobao for me.
(not that I bought any lol)

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Looks like no more cheap Star Wars Lego copies for my family's gifts. Ah well, was bound to happen eventually.

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Well Decool,SY,Xinh,and Pogo still exist.
I guess Lego not Target Them because they do minifigure or mocs set than copy 1:1 lego set.

 

[hombremalo]

Under many other names still on AliExpress

 

[kami_sama]

Well Decool,SY,Xinh,and Pogo still exist.
I guess Lego not Target Them because they do minifigure or mocs set than copy 1:1 lego set.

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Yeah, the patent on the bricks is most likely over since a long time ago. But the sets themselves are copyright of Lego, so that's why they targeted them

 

[Ryuuroden]

Lepin got greedy and stole set design, artwork, minfig design. Basically not a single original thing to their product. Plenty of other Lego compatible brick makers who don't practice theft out there. Buying Lepin is exactly like buying pirated video games or movies.

 

[IDreamOfHime]

Was gonna happen sooner or later. Lego grows stronger every day and Lepin got more greedy and audacious with their copycat sets.

 

[Syriel]

Yeah, the patent on the bricks is most likely over since a long time ago. But the sets themselves are copyright of Lego, so that's why they targeted them

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Yup. What Lepin does is no different than companies that sell pirated copies of video games.

 

[massoluk]

Another English article

https://www.shine.cn/news/metro/1904263731/

Haha, my local malls are flooded with Lepin. I kinda admired how shameless they are. Lasted way too long.

 

[Yukari]

Was gonna happen sooner or later. Lego grows stronger every day and Lepin got more greedy and audacious with their copycat sets.

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Another English article

https://www.shine.cn/news/metro/1904263731/

Haha, my local malls are flooded with Lepin. I kinda admired how shameless they are. Lasted way too long.

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Problem is How long ?
Lepin,Xingbao and Cogo (two latter is legit) Parent company is Guangdong Loongon. One of big china toy company (that Probably back up by China Government)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guangdong_Loongon

Few Month ago They just made new factory.
https://customizeminifiguresintelli...in-to-expand-with-rmb-50-million-new-factory/

So High chance that they will be back with new logo and box.

 

[Ponn]

Problem is How long ?
Lepin,Xingbao and Cogo (two latter is legit) Parent company is Guangdong Loongon. One of big china toy company (that Probably back up by China Government)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guangdong_Loongon

Few Month ago They just made new factory.
https://customizeminifiguresintelli...in-to-expand-with-rmb-50-million-new-factory/

So High chance that they will be back with new logo and box.

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Since The Lego Group has opened a factory there and made a huge push to have a presence in China the last couple years including a couple exclusive sets for the Chinese New Year there I guess the government has to make a choice about supporting piracy or not.

 

[Osahi]

Good riddance.

 

[Gundam]

China... Do care?

 

[Yukari]

China... Do care?

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You ever heard the tragady of Darth Dragon Momoko and Darth Daban The Wise ?

 

[LordOfLore]

Brickfan article

 

[Rassilon]

GOOD

I was often annoyed by the defence force that would pop out and defend Lepin because they believed that they were entitled to cheap Lego sets.

 

[Finaika]

Another Endgame thread?

 

[corasaur]

Lego city 2019 copyright police incoming? 3000 piece counterfeit factory raid megaset?

Pretty shocked to see china caring about piracy.

 

[Yukari]

Geek translate some line and look like propaganda much.
https://www.geek.com/culture/police-bust-massive-counterfeit-lego-operation-1784719/

"seriously, did you think we wouldn't find out about this?"

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I don't think Their factory location it's secret ?

Shanghai police also arrested four suspects and proclaimed that they had "destroyed the criminal gang." They also destroyed the gang's equipment just to make sure that the operation wouldn't just be fired right back up as soon as they exited the building.

Oh, and they also found almost $30 million in cash lying around. That's a good indication that Lepin had been doing rather well with its knockoffs.

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Um, What !!?