Division I
The Case Archive
Every lawsuit, fine, and recall on file, 1974 to the present: trademark oppositions, copyright and authorship disputes, counterfeiting actions from the Philippines to the United States, a €6.2 million European Commission fine for geo-blocking, a trustee’s clawback suit over payments from a collapsed licensee, and two product recalls. Sanrio appears on both sides of the caption, though far more often as the party enforcing the mark than as the one answering for it.
66
Real matters catalogued
6
Countries & forums
US, EU, JP, KR, PH, TW
€6.2M
Largest fine
EU geo-blocking, 2019
1974→
Span
and still filing
Featured matter
On the docket now
Studio Comet Co., Ltd. v. Sanrio Company, Ltd.Ongoing
Who created Kuromi?
The studio that animated the 2005 "Onegai My Melody" series says one of its animators, Tomoko Miyakawa, designed Kuromi, and that Sanrio’s 2023 book "The Secrets of Kuromi" credited the character to Hello Kitty designer Yuko Yamaguchi instead. Studio Comet sued in 2024 over the credit.
Read the fileThe full docket
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Filter by type, or search for a party, court, or docket number.
Showing 66 of 66 matters
| No. | Case | Type | Forum | Filed | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Studio Comet Co., Ltd. v. Sanrio Company, Ltd. Studio Comet v. Sanrio · Sanrio as defendant | Authorship | Japan (court not identified in English-language reporting) | 2024 | Ongoing | Open |
| 002 | Mercis B.V. v. Sanrio Co., Ltd. Miffy v. Cathy · Sanrio as defendant | Copyright | District Court of Amsterdam | 2010 | Settled | Open |
| 003 | European Commission v. Sanrio Co., Ltd. (Case AT.40432) EU geo-blocking fine · Sanrio as respondent | Antitrust | European Commission, DG Competition | 2017 | Decided | Open |
| 004 | Sanrio Co. Ltd v. EUIPO (Miroglio Fashion intervening) SANRIO CHARACTERS v. CARACTÈRE · Sanrio as applicant | Trademark | General Court of the European Union (Second Chamber) | 2022 | Decided | Open |
| 005 | Sanrio Company Ltd. v. Río Luna, S.L. et al. HOLA GATO · Sanrio as plaintiff | Trademark | Provincial Court of Alicante, sitting as EU Trade Mark Court | — | Decided | Open |
| 006 | Sanrio Co. Ltd v. Dong-A Pencil Co. Ltd KITTY (Korea) · Sanrio as plaintiff | Trademark | Seoul High Court | — | Decided | Open |
| 007 | Sanrio Company Limited v. Edgar C. Lim (Orignamura Trading) Orignamura (Philippines) · Sanrio as plaintiff | Counterfeiting | Supreme Court of the Philippines (First Division) | 2002 | Decided | Open |
| 008 | Sanrio Co., Ltd. v. Lin Cheng-pin (Hung Sheng Fashion Co.) Hung Sheng (Taiwan) · Sanrio as plaintiff | Counterfeiting | Taiwan High Court (Civil) | 1998 | Decided | Open |
| 009 | Sanrio Company, Ltd. & Sanrio, Inc. v. DLI pochacco.com · Sanrio as plaintiff | Domain (UDRP) | WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center | 2000 | Decided | Open |
| 010 | Sanrio Company, Ltd. & Sanrio, Inc. v. Neric Lau sanriosurprises.com · Sanrio as plaintiff | Domain (UDRP) | WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center | 2000 | Decided | Open |
| 011 | Sanrio Company Ltd. v. Song Chen and Chowbus Chowbus hellokittyktv.com · Sanrio as plaintiff | Domain (UDRP) | WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center | 2025 | Decided | Open |
| 012 | Sanrio, Inc. v. Cherilyn Holden & Kristi Musick (d/b/a Definitely Diva) Definitely Diva pageant · Sanrio as plaintiff | Copyright | U.S. federal court, Oklahoma | 2012 | Filed | Open |
| 013 | Research In Motion Ltd. v. Sanrio Company, Ltd. MOMOBERRY v. BLACKBERRY · Sanrio as respondent | Trademark | USPTO Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) | 2008 | Settled | Open |
| 014 | Disney Enterprises, DC Comics & Sanrio, Inc. v. The Party Animals LLC Party Animals costumes · Sanrio as plaintiff | Counterfeiting | U.S. District Court, Central District of California | 2012 | Filed | Open |
| 015 | David Weisman v. Sanrio Far East Company Weisman v. Sanrio Far East · Sanrio as defendant | Copyright | U.S. District Court, Central District of California | 2011 | Closed | Open |
| 016 | Dudnikov v. Sanrio, Incorporated Dudnikov (Tabberone) · Sanrio as defendant | Copyright | U.S. District Court, District of Colorado | 2004 | Settled | Open |
| 017 | Julissa Cota v. Sanrio, Inc. Cota (ADA access) · Sanrio as defendant | Disability access | U.S. District Court, Southern District of California | 2021 | Settled | Open |
| 018 | Halperin (Liquidating Trustee) v. Sanrio, Inc. High Ridge clawback · Sanrio as defendant | Bankruptcy | U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware | 2021 | Closed | Open |
| 019 | Ormat International v. Sanrio, Inc. Ormat (contract) · Sanrio as defendant | Contract | U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida | 1992 | Closed | Open |
| 020 | Lipner v. Sanrio, Incorporated Lipner (libel) · Sanrio as defendant | Defamation | U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida | 2003 | Closed | Open |
| 021 | Duke Salisbury v. Sanrio Incorporated Salisbury (adversary) · Sanrio as defendant | Bankruptcy | U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California | 1995 | Closed | Open |
| 022 | Sanrio Company, Ltd. v. J.I.K. Accessories, Inc. J.I.K. Accessories · Sanrio as plaintiff | Trademark | U.S. District Court, Northern District of California | 2009 | Closed | Open |
| 023 | CPSC & Sanrio, Inc. — Mascot Plushes recall Mascot Plushes recall · regulatory | Product recall | U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission | 1998 | Closed | Open |
| 024 | CPSC & McDonald's — Hello Kitty whistle recall Happy Meal whistle recall · regulatory | Product recall | U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (with Health Canada) | 2014 | Closed | Open |
| 025 | Sanrio Company, Ltd. v. Arawko, LLC KUMUSTA PUSA · Sanrio as opposer | Trademark | USPTO Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) | 2025 | Decided | Open |
| 026 | Sanrio Company, Ltd. v. David Silva HK PRINCESS · Sanrio as opposer | Trademark | USPTO Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) | 2005 | Decided | Open |
| 027 | Sanrio Company, Ltd. v. Azrak-Hamway International, Inc. PRETTY KITTY · Sanrio as opposer | Trademark | USPTO Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) | 1984 | Decided | Open |
| 028 | Sanrio Company, Ltd. v. Fancy World Creations, Inc. FUNNY BUNNY · Sanrio as opposer | Trademark | USPTO Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) | 1984 | Decided | Open |
| 029 | Sanrio Company, Ltd. v. Scanti Lingerie Co., Inc. MISS KITTY · Sanrio as opposer | Trademark | USPTO Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) | 1983 | Settled | Open |
| 030 | Sanrio Company, Ltd. v. Unneeda Doll Co., Inc. KITTY AND HER KIDDIE KAR · Sanrio as opposer | Trademark | USPTO Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) | 1981 | Settled | Open |
| 031 | Sanrio Company, Ltd. v. Jang Hwan Bae kittykorea.com · Sanrio as plaintiff | Domain (UDRP) | WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center | 2003 | Decided | Open |
| 032 | Sanrio Company, Ltd. v. Impresa.Inc hellokitty.biz · Sanrio as plaintiff | Domain (UDRP) | National Arbitration Forum (STOP proceeding) | 2002 | Decided | Open |
| 033 | Sanrio Company, Ltd. & Sanrio, Inc. v. Protected Domain Services hellokittysell.com · Sanrio as plaintiff | Domain (UDRP) | National Arbitration Forum | 2012 | Decided | Open |
| 034 | Sanrio Company, Ltd. & Sanrio, Inc. v. Stephanie Sims hellokittypageant.com · Sanrio as plaintiff | Domain (UDRP) | National Arbitration Forum | 2012 | Decided | Open |
| 035 | Sanrio Company, Ltd. & Sanrio, Inc. v. Michael Sedan badhellokitty.com · Sanrio as plaintiff | Domain (UDRP) | National Arbitration Forum | 2016 | Decided | Open |
| 036 | Sanrio, Inc. v. World Wide Watches, Inc. World Wide Watches · Sanrio as plaintiff | Trademark | U.S. District Court, Central District of California | 2009 | Closed | Open |
| 037 | Sanrio, Inc. et al. v. J T Saniya, Inc. et al. J T Saniya · Sanrio as plaintiff | Counterfeiting | U.S. District Court, Central District of California | 2012 | Closed | Open |
| 038 | Sanrio, Inc. & Disney Enterprises, Inc. v. Chang (Susan’s Shoppe) Susan’s Shoppe · Sanrio as plaintiff | Counterfeiting | U.S. District Court, Central District of California | 2012 | Decided | Open |
| 039 | Sanrio, Inc. v. Blink & Blink, Inc. Blink & Blink · Sanrio as plaintiff | Counterfeiting | U.S. District Court, Central District of California | 2013 | Closed | Open |
| 040 | Sanrio, Inc. et al. v. George Wilson et al. George Wilson · Sanrio as plaintiff | Counterfeiting | U.S. District Court, Central District of California | 2015 | Closed | Open |
| 041 | Sanrio Company, Ltd. et al. v. Riggs et al. Riggs · Sanrio as plaintiff | Counterfeiting | U.S. District Court, Northern District of California | 2010 | Closed | Open |
| 042 | Sanrio Company, Ltd. et al. v. Granda et al. Granda · Sanrio as plaintiff | Counterfeiting | U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida | 2012 | Closed | Open |
| 043 | Sanrio Company, Ltd. v. Sommer’s Entertainment LLC Sommer’s Entertainment · Sanrio as plaintiff | Trademark | U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida | 2018 | Decided | Open |
| 044 | Sanrio Company, Ltd. v. Gearment, LLC Gearment · Sanrio as plaintiff | Counterfeiting | U.S. District Court, Central District of California | 2020 | Closed | Open |
| 045 | Sanrio Company, Ltd. v. $avage Clothing LLC et al. $avage Clothing · Sanrio as plaintiff | Counterfeiting | U.S. District Court, Central District of California | 2023 | Decided | Open |
| 046 | Sanrio Company, Ltd. et al. v. Love Beauty Cosmetics LLC et al. Love Beauty Cosmetics · Sanrio as plaintiff | Counterfeiting | U.S. District Court, Central District of California | 2023 | Closed | Open |
| 047 | Sanrio Company, Ltd. et al. v. Hot Bamboo LLC et al. Hot Bamboo · Sanrio as plaintiff | Counterfeiting | U.S. District Court, Central District of California | 2023 | Filed | Open |
| 048 | People v. Gu Juan & Zhang Lifeng (counterfeit Hello Kitty) Shanghai counterfeiting (criminal) · Sanrio as rights-holder | Counterfeiting | Shanghai Pudong New Area People’s Court, affirmed by the Shanghai No. 1 Intermediate People’s Court | 2010 | Decided | Open |
| 049 | Sanrio Co., Ltd. v. Putian Maomao Silversmith Jewelry Co., Ltd. Maomao Silversmith (China TRAB) · Sanrio as petitioner | Trademark | China Trademark Review & Adjudication Board (TRAB) | — | Decided | Open |
| 050 | Wenzhou Customs — export of infringing Hello Kitty goods Wenzhou Customs seizure · Sanrio as rights-holder | Customs enforcement | Wenzhou Customs (China) | 2015 | Closed | Open |
| 051 | Sanrio Co. Ltd v. EUIPO (Miroglio Fashion intervening) Sanrio v EUIPO (T-44/22) · Sanrio as applicant | Trademark | General Court of the European Union | 2022 | Decided | Open |
| 052 | Haikou market regulator — Kuromi / Hello Kitty retail infringement Haikou Kuromi shop · Sanrio as complainant | Trademark | Haikou Longhua District Market Supervision Administration | 2023 | Closed | Open |
| 053 | Sanrio Co., Ltd. v. Jie Chen (GATITA FELIZ) GATITA FELIZ · Sanrio as opposer | Trademark | EUIPO Opposition Division | 2011 | Decided | Open |
| 054 | Sanrio Co., Ltd. v. Li Jing Zhou (MAOMI) MAOMI · Sanrio as opposer | Trademark | EUIPO Opposition Division | 2011 | Decided | Open |
| 055 | Sanrio Co., Ltd. v. Bifulco Distribuzione (HAPPY ANGELS) HAPPY ANGELS (Sanrio lost) · Sanrio as petitioner | Trademark | EUIPO Cancellation Division; Fourth Board of Appeal | 2010 | Decided | Open |
| 056 | Sanrio Co., Ltd. v. Tieshi Zheng (Registered Community Design) RCD “Ornamentations” · Sanrio as petitioner | Design | EUIPO Invalidity Division; Third Board of Appeal | 2011 | Decided | Open |
| 057 | Sanrio Co., Ltd. v. ASBIT ASBIT (Poland) · Sanrio as plaintiff | Counterfeiting | Community Trade Mark Court, Warsaw Regional Court (XXII division) | 2007 | Decided | Open |
| 058 | Illustrator v. Sanrio (Kero Kero Keroppi) Keroppi copyright (Japan) · Sanrio as defendant | Copyright | Tokyo District Court; affirmed by the Tokyo High Court | 2000 | Decided | Open |
| 059 | Sanrio Company, Ltd. v. a firm trading as “サンリオ / SUNRIO” SUNRIO trade name (Japan) · Sanrio as plaintiff | Trademark | Nagoya District Court | — | Decided | Open |
| 060 | Sanrio Co., Ltd. v. Yang Hsiu-hui (Lili Industrial) Lili Industrial (Taiwan) · Sanrio as complainant | Counterfeiting | Taiwan High Court, Criminal Division (appeal from Shilin District Court) | — | Decided | Open |
| 061 | Sanrio (rights holder) — Hello Kitty “genuine fabric, still infringing” case Genuine-fabric masks (Taiwan) · Sanrio as rights-holder | Counterfeiting | Kaohsiung District Court | 2009 | Decided | Open |
| 062 | Sanrio Co., Ltd. v. Sunrise Impression (exhibition license) Hello Kitty 40th exhibition (Taiwan) · Sanrio as plaintiff | Copyright | Taiwan IP Court; affirmed by the Supreme Court | 2019 | Decided | Open |
| 063 | Hello Kitty, Inc. v. Sanrio Company, Ltd. (Panama) Hello Kitty, Inc. v Sanrio (Panama) · Sanrio as respondent | Trademark | Third Superior Court of Justice, First Judicial District (Panama) | 2024 | Decided | Open |
| 064 | Sanrio v. VIP Party Gifts Perú S.A.C. VIP Party Gifts (Peru) · Sanrio as complainant | Counterfeiting | INDECOPI — Comisión de Derecho de Autor | 2025 | Decided | Open |
| 065 | IMPI — Mixcoac seizure of counterfeit Sanrio goods IMPI Mixcoac seizure · Sanrio as rights-holder | Customs enforcement | Instituto Mexicano de la Propiedad Industrial (IMPI) | 2025 | Closed | Open |
| 066 | Sanrio (victim) — Munich counterfeit Hello Kitty prosecution Munich counterfeit (Germany) · Sanrio as rights-holder | Counterfeiting | Amtsgericht München (criminal) | 2013 | Decided | Open |
This catalogues the notable matters. Sanrio is a prolific enforcer and files many additional routine counterfeiting suits each year, often against anonymous online sellers, that are not individually listed here.
Reference
How to read a docket
Each case file opens with a caption: the parties, with the plaintiff (who sued) on top and the defendant below, joined by the bracket and a v. The docket number is the court’s file number. In US federal courts it looks like 1:23-cr-00119: the office, the year, a type code (cv civil, cr criminal, ap bankruptcy adversary), and a sequence number.
Claims are the legal theories. Holding or outcome is how it ended: a judgment, a settlement, a dismissal, or, at an agency, a fine or a transfer. Where a field reads not public, the record exists but the detail is not online. We do not fill those gaps with guesses.