Banbao’s bricks are slightly different from Lego’s (larger dent in the bobble, other kinds of colours), but these differences are not sufficient to be perceived by consumers.
The toys must be compatible with Lego, but that does not mean the whole product may be copied. The products generate the same overall impression on the audience, so it was also a design infringement. The figures are however based on stereotypical characters, but Lego has many subjective decisions to make in the design. Infringement, again because copyrighted aspects were copied, also in the packaging (same building, frame, skyline).
Result: a ban on the marketing of the toys and reimbursement of part of the legal fees of the opposing party (around € 65,000, -).
