The Lay-Out of the Magic Kingdom in Shanghai Wrapped Up in a Trade Secret

"One rat will invite his friend"

In November 2009 the Chinese government approved that Shanghai would get its own Disneyland and even the first Disney resort in China. Hong Kong was not amused, because as of 2016 Hong Kong will no longer be the exclusive gate to the Magic Kingdom in China. Brady MacDonald wrote for the Los Angeles Times the reasons why the lay-out of the Shanghai Disneyland is shrouded in secrecy:

• "To prevent knockoff rides by rival Asian theme parks, which happened before Hong Kong Disneyland's 2005 opening. 
• To preserve creative flexibility for Disney's Imagineers during the ongoing "Blue Sky" development phase, when rides, shows and even entire lands appear or disappear.
• To tread lightly with the Chinese government during the upcoming five-year engagement, which follows a delicate two-decade courtship."

Major construction of Shanghai Disneyland is expected to begin next month (May 2011), then it will become harder to keep the trade secret. 

Read more here.

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Mickey Mouse Went To the Ladies' Market in Hong Kong Without Disney Knowing It

Unauthorised Use of Disney's copyright 

Smoothite versus Samsonite

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Mickey, Pokémon and Dooly Still Banned From Chinese Prime Time TV

September 30 to October 5, 2010, the second China International Animation Copyright Fair will be held in China's animation capital Dongguan, Guangdong province. Read an article by Tan Jing for News Guangdong here.

In 2010 foreign animations, such as Mickey Mouse (US), Pokemon (Japan) and Dooly (South Korean) have substantial mature industries, are still banned from prime time, a measure which started on September 1, 2006. The rationale behind the discriminatory measure is to support the fledgling domestic animation industry and to protect Chinese children from too much foreign exposure.

"The positioning of the second animation copyright fair will be clearer in order to focus on copyright protection and trade."

The American cartoon series The Transformers was provided to China Central TV (CCTV) free of charge, because they anticipate making money with the merchandise. Chinese animation companies are too small (at least in 2006), according to Crystal Wong of Asia Times, read here.

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In The Year of The Tigger: What Makes A Real Winnie The Pooh?

How to tell real from fake?

On top: real Winnie the Pooh, including a laser hologram of Walt Disney.

Below: fake Winnie the Pooh, without a laser hologram of Walt Disney. The counterfeit one is on offer in Wanchai, Hong Kong for 30 HK dollar (about 3 euro) and is tailor made for Chinese new year (good year's wishes and two plush oranges).

Probably the counterfeiters will learn from Walt Disney and might come up with their own hologram. And Walt Disney could learn from the counterfeit version and come up with a tailor made Chinese new year Winnie.

Thank you for the pictures Trinity!

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Why the Mouse Had To Go Out Of Beijing Shijingshan Amusement Park

Remember the chutzpah of a slogan 'Disney is too far' of Beijing Shijingshan Amusement Park, which used the menagerie of Walt Disney and Japanese cartoon figures last May, read here. It remained silent about how the story continued. So IP Dragon was happy that Jack Bernstein, editor of the China IP Report, published by InterLingua Legal Publishing quoted the article 'Beijing Shijingshan Amusement Park Stops Concerned Cartoon Performance on Alleged Disney Copyright Infringement Source' Chinese language news paper Beijing Star Daily, May 11, 2007 in his monthly electronic newsletter summarizing Patent, Copyright and Trademark IP cases decided in the Chinese courts; IP-related news items appearing in the Chinese media; and, laws and policies relating to IP enacted by the Chinese government:

"Beijing Municipal Bureau of Copyright was informed that Beijing Shijingshan Amusement Park infringed upon the copyright of the the Walt Disney Corporation. The reporters learned yesterday that Shijingshan Amusement Park has removed the alleged infringing cartoon posters; stopped the alleged infringing cartoon character shows, exhibition and sales of cartoon character toys.

"WANG Yefei, vice director of the Copyright Bureau, expressed the concern of the local government and concerned departments upon receiving the complaint from a representative of Disney Corporation. The Copyright Bureau sent investigators to the spot right away. WANG said that Beijing Government always maintains a strong emphasis on IPR protection and has been promoting respect for copyright laws.

"In the mean time, Shijingshan Amusement Park has adopted emergency measures. The disputed cartoon posters were removed; cartoon character performances and sales of cartoon character toys halted. The person in charge of the Amusement Park said that the incident did not cause much damage, and they would attract tourists and visitors with new projects, such as the soon-to-be-completed "Adventure Island" and "Dream Island"."

The question is whether the Beijing Shijingshan Amusement Park is adventurous enough to come with their own creations they have dreamed up and be able to refrain from Pirates of the Caribean-clones inhabiting their new Islands.

The great picture of "PI RAT E" can be ordered on a T-shirt at TRESTRIGES, see here.

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