Key facts
- A UK judge ordered the removal of all Wolfoo videos due to copyright infringement.
- The infringement involved the illegal copying of audio clips from Peppa Pig.
- Hasbro, owner of Peppa Pig, brought the legal action against Wolfoo's creators, SConnect.
- The judge found the copying to be "prolific" and "long-standing".
- The ruling mandates the removal of all Wolfoo videos by Monday and applies globally to WTO member states.
A UK judge has ordered the complete removal of all videos featuring the animated character Wolfoo from online platforms, including YouTube, after ruling that the content illegally copied audio from the popular children's show Peppa Pig. The decision came after entertainment giant Hasbro, which owns Peppa Pig, sued Wolfoo's Vietnamese creators, SConnect, for copyright infringement.
Mr Justice Smith found that the copying of short audio clips, such as Peppa Pig characters saying "hooray!", had been "prolific" and "long-standing". SConnect had argued that some infringing videos were included due to a third-party contractor and that all infringing content had been removed, with new animations using only original sounds. However, the judge dismissed these arguments, stating the source of the audio was irrelevant and that SConnect's claims about removal and original sound creation were disproven.
The ruling, which applies to the UK, European Union, and all 166 World Trade Organisation member states, mandates that all Wolfoo videos must be taken down by Monday. Hasbro's legal team highlighted the "significant judgment" as crucial for protecting the Peppa Pig brand globally, given Wolfoo's extensive reach.