China’s collectible-toy powerhouse Pop Mart has filed a lawsuit against an unusual opponent: a 3D printing company. The firm has filed a copyright lawsuit against Shenzhen-based printer maker Bambu Lab, accusing its online platform of enabling fans to print their own versions of the wildly popular Labubu character at home.
At the core of this dust-up is MakerWorld, Bambu Lab’s community platform where users share downloadable 3D models. According to the complaint, thousands of files based on Labubu were uploaded to the site, allowing users to print off unofficial replicas using consumer 3D printers.
Pop Mart argues that these files violate its copyright by reproducing and distributing designs linked to Labubu’s intellectual property. The case has been filed at the People’s Court of Pudong New Area in Shanghai and a hearing is scheduled for April 2.
The stakes are high because Labubu is no small franchise. The character is one of the company’s biggest hits, accounting for more than 30% of its total sales in 2025.
Fans ripped through blind-box packaging, often in front of massive online audiences, to find that one rare Labubu they were missing. So for Pop Mart, a 3D printer is a hell of a nemesis. Being able to print off the rarest Labubu like it was ink on paper undercuts the whole scarcity and collectability model the brand runs on.
And some MakerWorld files have reportedly attracted tens of thousands of downloads already. Add to that the fact that home-printed figures can cost just a few RMB to produce and Pop Mart have a real problem on its hands.
How will the Pop Mart 3D printing lawsuit play out?
The case hinges on whether they can prove Bambu Lab is responsible. BL itself did not create the models. Instead, the dispute will focus on whether a platform can be held responsible for copyrighted designs uploaded by its users. That question places the case squarely in the same grey area that once surrounded music-sharing services in the early days of the internet.
Since the lawsuit surfaced, Bambu Lab has removed Labubu-related files from MakerWorld. But the legal battle could still set an important precedent. If Pop Mart succeeds, platforms hosting 3D-printable models may face new pressure to police user-generated designs more aggressively.
