Legal Battle Between Lego Group and a Ukrainian Entrepreneur
Denmark's Lego Group has filed a lawsuit against a Ukrainian entrepreneur for selling counterfeit construction kits. The Commercial Court of Kyiv opened proceedings on June 11, 2026. The plaintiff is seeking compensation of 1,164,800 Ukrainian hryvnias, plus a fine of 116,480 hryvnias payable to the state budget. A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for August 13, 2026. This legal action highlights the ongoing global issue of intellectual property theft in the toy industry, particularly as counterfeiters increasingly target popular brands like Lego.
Lego Group initiated the court case over the sale of counterfeit goods that copy the Lego Technic product line. It has been reported that the online store podarok.in.ua was selling fake models of vehicles such as:
- Porsche GT3 RS
- Bugatti Chiron
- Porsche 911 RSR
- Land Rover Defender
- Lamborghini Sian
Lego representatives are demanding that the use of Lego Technic packaging designs be prohibited, and that all copies of the disputed goods be seized and destroyed.
Additionally, Lego Group insists on recovering compensation of 1,164,800 hryvnias, along with a fine amounting to 10% of that sum—116,480 hryvnias. The company had previously contacted the hosting provider Hosting Ukraine LLC requesting data on the website owner, but received no response. As a result, the court has ordered the provider to disclose information about the site's owner. The Ukrainian entrepreneur has 15 days after receiving the court ruling to submit a response to the lawsuit.
The Importance of Intellectual Property Protection
This case underscores the critical need to safeguard intellectual property in the toy manufacturing sector, as counterfeit products can cause substantial harm to legitimate producers. The trial could set a significant precedent for similar cases in Ukraine, especially amid growing competition in the toy market.