Chinese language bakers trying to money in on the recognition of the Beijing Winter Olympics mascot have ended up on skinny ice after market authorities cracked down on candy treats formed just like the cartoon panda.
Officers cited licensing considerations for his or her swoops on the gastronomic homages to Bing Dwen Dwen, and one case of copyright violations — for producing pirated mascot dolls — has already landed an individual in jail.
Depicted in a full-body ice swimsuit, Bing Dwen Dwen has sparked lengthy queues at Olympic memento outlets — with many prepared to fork out greater than the official value to get their fingers on one amid shortages.
Whereas its identify formally means “ice little one” in Mandarin, it’s extra colloquially translated as “ice chubster”. It’s usually seen alongside Shuey Rhon Rhon, a lantern mascot for the Winter Paralympic Video games.
Authorities have mentioned they’re investigating a number of companies utilizing the Olympics symbols with out permission.
One bakery within the southeastern province of Jiangsu was reported for promoting desserts formed just like the rotund panda, and lacked “related authorisation”, native officers mentioned Friday.
“A six-inch cake within the form of Bing Dwen Dwen was discovered on the scene… the events made three such desserts, price 600 yuan ($94),” mentioned the market supervision administration in Nantong metropolis.
State media mentioned authorities had obtained a “tip-off” in regards to the alleged crime.
A dessert retailer within the japanese Shantou metropolis was additionally stopped from promoting candy treats formed just like the mascot and bearing the Olympic rings, one other official discover mentioned.
“Mental property rights comparable to patents and copyrights of Bing Dwen Dwen are owned by the Beijing Winter Olympics Organising Committee,” the discover burdened.
Offending bakeries have been additionally reported in different elements of the nation, mentioned state media.
With the Lunar New 12 months coinciding with the beginning of the Olympics and affecting manufacturing of toys within the form of the mascot, a provide scarcity in latest weeks has seen scalpers promoting the product for 10 instances its unique value of 200 yuan ($30), in keeping with studies.
Spectators are largely banned from the Video games on account of Covid-19 restrictions, and proudly owning the mascot could be the closest most individuals get to the Beijing Winter Olympics.
Officers mentioned Monday that an individual had been jailed for a yr and fined 40,000 yuan ($6,300) for making and promoting pirated dolls of Bing Dwen Dwen, in what they mentioned was China’s “first legal case” for infringing the copyright of the Beijing Winter Olympics mascot.
