Bambu Lab and Pop Mart Settle Labubu IP Dispute — All Infringing Models Removed from MakerWorld

Bambu Lab and Pop Mart have reached a settlement in their intellectual property dispute, just weeks before the case was set to go to court in Shanghai.

The lawsuit, which was scheduled for an April 2 hearing, centered on copyrighted Labubu character designs that users had uploaded to Bambu Lab's MakerWorld platform. Pop Mart alleged that the platform hosted massive amounts of infringing content, allowing users to download and 3D print unauthorized versions of their popular art toy characters.

What Happened

Following consultations between the two parties, a search for "Labubu" on MakerWorld now returns zero results. The settlement effectively ends the legal confrontation before it reached the courtroom.

The MakerWorld community hosts over 1 million model resources. Users had been able to download 3D printing files of Labubu characters for free, using consumer 3D printers to manufacture figures highly similar to Pop Mart's original versions.

Why This Matters

The resolution highlights the growing intellectual property challenges facing 3D printing platforms. As consumer-grade 3D printing becomes more普及, platforms like MakerWorld face increasing pressure to regulate user-uploaded copyrighted content.

This case could set a precedent for how 3D printing platforms handle IP disputes in the future. The settlement avoids a potentially landmark ruling but still signals to platforms that IP holders are actively monitoring and enforcing their rights in the 3D printing space.

For Bambu Lab, the settlement means removing a significant source of user engagement from their platform. For Pop Mart, it represents a successful enforcement of their IP without the uncertainty of a court ruling.

This article has been updated to reflect the settlement reached between Bambu Lab and Pop Mart. The case was originally set for April 2, 2026, in Shanghai court.