Exclusive: Cartoon maker hits back at Peppa Pig online takedowns

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Gardens, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Exclusive: Cartoon maker hits back at Peppa Pig online takedowns

Peppa story-comp.jpg

SConnect has contacted the Vietnamese government following eOne’s letter about YouTube IP takedowns, in an increasingly bitter dispute

The maker of the Wolfoo cartoon has claimed that the trademark owner of Peppa Pig unfairly secured takedowns from YouTube – and has again encouraged Vietnam’s government to protect local businesses.

In a letter sent to various government ministries yesterday, November 7, Vietnam-based SConnect said eOne had “absolutely no right to implement YouTube takedown measures”.

Although eOne would request a takedown, the decision to accept or not would in reality sit with YouTube.

The letter marks the latest twist in what is becoming an increasingly vociferous spat between the pair.

Vietnam-based SConnect has been embroiled in a high-profile trademark and copyright row with eOne, which manages the intellectual property rights to the Peppa Pig franchise.

In the letter, seen by Managing IP, SConnect said responsibility for determining infringement had been pushed onto YouTube and its parent company Google, and that eOne’s takedown requests were made on false pretences.

The latest development follows an intervention from eOne last month. The entertainment company contacted Vietnam’s government to argue that courts should be the appropriate forum for resolving IP disputes.

EOne was responding to an earlier round of lobbying in which the Vietnam Digital Communications Association said YouTube takedown requests were causing heavy damage to SConnect.

EOne said at the time it had simply followed YouTube’s takedown procedures.

However, in yesterday’s letter, SConnect said eOne’s claim that it had a valid reason to request takedowns from YouTube was “completely false”. SConnect said it is the sole owner of the Wolfoo series and eOne does not own any rights to Wolfoo, including characters and sets.

However, Managing IP understands eOne has never claimed ownership of the Wolfoo content – only that the cartoon itself, including its background setting and music, infringed the company’s rights to Peppa Pig.

The SConnect letter added: “EOne is performing acts of infringement and causing serious damage to SConnect but denies the whole thing and pushes responsibility to a third party – YouTube”.

The dispute forms part of a multijurisdictional battle between eOne and SConnect. In January, eOne sued SConnect at the England and Wales High Court, alleging copyright and trademark infringement and passing off.

SConnect has also sued eOne at the Hanoi People’s Court, though Managing IP understands a claim form has not been served yet.

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

New members of the Access Advance patent pool and Harvard University coming under fire were also among the top talking points
Team from Graham Watt & Co will join Beck Greener’s London office
The firm reported a small uptick in overall revenue and profit per equity partner, while its IP team secured notable life sciences victories
Paul Ainsworth, who secured a settlement for his client in a patent dispute, says the case shows why medical claims by dietary supplement companies can threaten IP rights
Boies Schiller Flexner joins forces with Grünecker to target Skechers in Europe following US lawsuit
Helen Mutimer discusses how the firm’s IP advisory services are filling a gap in the market, and why life sciences work is soaring
In major recent developments, a confidentiality request was rejected, Samsung and its representative A&O Shearman secured a partial win, and EIP made a new hire
Tomas Wässingbo joins us for our ‘Five minutes with’ series to explain why he wants to change the perception around designs
PepsiCo was represented by PwC, while the Australian Taxation Office was advised by Australian-headquartered law firm MinterEllison
The firm said revenue from its ‘refreshed and expanded’ IP team increased by 4% in FY25
Gift this article