Poppy Playtime Creator Takes Legal Action Against Google

Mob Entertainment, the creative force behind the indie horror sensation Poppy Playtime, has initiated a civil lawsuit against Google alongside another developer, Daigo Game 2020, Inc. The suit alleges that both parties manipulated the game’s branding and titles to mislead fans, ultimately resulting in financial loss for unsuspecting consumers. The claims lodged by Mob Entertainment encompass copyright infringement, trademark dilution, and unfair competition, with the plaintiff seeking at least $375,000 in damages.

Since its debut in October 2021, Poppy Playtime has captivated players with its episodic survival horror format. The game takes place in a dilapidated toy factory reminiscent of a Willy Wonka wonderland, inhabited by grotesque animated toys. Its popularity skyrocketed, drawing attention for its seemingly child-friendly aesthetics, which unexpectedly prompted warnings from schools regarding the franchise’s chilling mascot, Huggy Wuggy—a towering, blue-skinned creature.

Legal Assertions Against Google for Copyright Infringement

The highly anticipated release of Chapter 4 is set for January 30; however, Daigo Game 2020, Inc. has preemptively launched an app titled “Poppy Playtime Chapter 4″on the Google Play Store as early as October 15, 2024. Notably, the lawsuit, which Mob Entertainment filed in a California civil court, reveals that Daigo had also rolled out a similar app mimicking the third installment, which appeared two and a half months ahead of its official release on Steam, and almost a year before becoming available on Google Play. Both apps, which pose as legitimate versions of their respective game chapters, mislead users into spending up to $95 on a mod that merely redirects to an inactive URL.

Within the extensive 40-page lawsuit, which cites a total of 283 articles, Mob Entertainment alleges that Daigo illegitimately used copyrighted images from Poppy Playtime Chapter 2 to mislead potential customers. This includes imagery related to various game antagonists, such as Huggy Wuggy and Mommy Long Legs, as well as elements like the GrabPack tool and Smiling Critters including Bubba Bubbaphant and DogDay.

Mob Entertainment insists that Google has failed to adequately respond to their requests for the removal of Daigo’s contentious apps from its Google Play Store, with the first notice being sent on October 31, 2024. While Daigo’s Poppy Playtime Chapter 3 app was temporarily taken down by December 9, 2024, it resurfaced on the platform on January 13, 2024, and continues to appear prominently in search results for Poppy Playtime. The lawsuit not only asks for the removal of the apps but also demands at least $75,000 in actual damages and up to $150,000 for each work infringed, along with court costs and attorney fees.

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