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Pop Mart Settled Its Labubu Dispute With Bambu Lab—But MakerWorld’s Takedowns Exposed a Bigger IP Problem

Pop Mart’s Labubu dispute with Bambu Lab reportedly ended in a March 2026 settlement. The case centered on user-uploaded MakerWorld files—and exposed the risks of platform takedowns.

By ThatPainter Team 7 min read
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Pop Mart, the owner of Labubu, sued Bambu Lab over allegedly unauthorized Labubu-related 3D-print files uploaded to Bambu’s MakerWorld repository. The dispute was reportedly settled in March 2026, before a planned April hearing. Bambu Lab apologized and said problematic content had been removed. The settlement’s financial and legal terms remain undisclosed.

The case was not evidence that Bambu manufactured every disputed object. Its central question was whether a platform that hosts, distributes, promotes, and potentially rewards access to user-uploaded printable files can be held responsible for allegedly infringing content created by its users.

What happened between Pop Mart and Bambu Lab?

Users uploaded Labubu-, “Lafufu-,” and other Pop Mart-related models to MakerWorld, Bambu Lab’s model-sharing and printing ecosystem. Pop Mart objected to files it characterized as unauthorized reproductions or counterfeit-like products and sued Bambu Lab and affiliated entities over the platform’s role.

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MakerWorld then removed or restricted relevant listings. During the resulting enforcement wave, some creators reported that Pop Mart-related notices had also affected models such as joystick tools, fuse holders, and vacuum accessories—designs they said had no apparent connection to Labubu. Bambu later said that some models had been accidentally delisted because of an operational error and that most affected models were restored.

Reporting in March 2026 said the companies had settled. Bambu subsequently apologized and said the problematic content had been fully removed from MakerWorld. No reliable public source in the supplied record establishes the settlement amount, an admission of liability, a license or revenue-sharing deal, new filtering requirements, creator compensation, or a universal restoration policy.

That makes the accurate headline past tense: Pop Mart sued Bambu Lab over Labubu-related MakerWorld files; the dispute was reportedly settled.

Why MakerWorld mattered

MakerWorld is more than an image gallery. A creator can upload an STL, 3MF file, or print profile; another user can download it; slicing software can convert it into printer instructions; and a Bambu printer can produce the physical object. Listings may include photographs, descriptions, remixes, comments, and creator rewards.

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Bambu presents MakerWorld as part of a broader printer, filament, accessory, and creator ecosystem. Its platform policies allow reported or discovered infringing content to be removed, potentially without prior notice. Its creator agreement also says creators retain rights to their program models subject to specified licenses.

That integration creates the legal tension. Bambu did not necessarily sculpt, manufacture, or sell every disputed Labubu model. But Pop Mart could argue that Bambu hosted the files, made them searchable and downloadable, facilitated printing, benefited from platform activity, or failed to respond adequately after receiving notice.

What Pop Mart’s legal theory could involve

The precise claims in the Bambu complaint should not be inferred from other Pop Mart cases. However, the dispute can be understood through several kinds of intellectual-property rights:

  • Copyright: protection for particular Labubu artwork, character depictions, sculptural expression, and other original creative elements.
  • Trademark: protection for source-identifying names, logos, and marks such as “LABUBU.”
  • Counterfeit and unfair-competition theories: possible claims when an object or listing is presented in a way that falsely suggests official origin.
  • Trade dress: possible protection for a distinctive overall commercial appearance, depending on the jurisdiction and pleaded facts.

Those rights do not automatically protect every idea or general trait. A “mischievous furry fantasy creature” is not the same thing as copying a particular protected character depiction. Nor is every fan-made model automatically a counterfeit. The outcome for an individual file depends on its design, branding, marketing, purpose, jurisdiction, and the applicable license or exception.

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Why sue the platform instead of only the uploaders?

Individual uploaders may be anonymous, numerous, or located across different countries. A platform can be easier to identify and can remove many files at once. It also controls search results, hosting, account access, rewards, moderation, and the information attached to a listing.

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Pop Mart’s likely argument was not necessarily that Bambu authored every model. It was that Bambu enabled, distributed, promoted, or commercially benefited from access to allegedly infringing files, and perhaps continued to provide access after receiving sufficiently specific notices.

Bambu’s counterargument would be that users created the files, the repository is a user-generated-content service, and the company maintains notice-and-takedown procedures. Platform liability can depend on the jurisdiction, the quality and specificity of notices, the platform’s knowledge and response, its contribution to the alleged infringement, and the operation of applicable safe-harbor rules.

A settlement does not decide those questions. It establishes neither that Pop Mart’s allegations were proven nor that Bambu was legally blameless.

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The “Lafufu” question

“Lafufu” is commonly used online for counterfeit or imitation Labubu products. It is not, by itself, a universal legal category. A file marketed as an official Labubu replacement creates a different risk profile from an original character, an accessory for a user-owned toy, or a parody—although none of those labels guarantees safety.

Also avoid treating “IP theft” as an adjudicated fact. The defensible terms are alleged infringement, unauthorized reproduction, or counterfeit-like model unless a court has made a finding.

What happened to unrelated MakerWorld models?

Several users described receiving Pop Mart-related takedown notices for models they considered unrelated to Labubu. Those reports are important evidence of creator frustration and possible enforcement errors, but they are user accounts rather than independently verified findings that Pop Mart knowingly made false claims.

Bambu’s own reported explanation was narrower: some models had been accidentally delisted because of an operational error, and most affected models were restored. The available evidence does not establish that every notice was automated, that every removed model was unrelated, that all models were restored, or that Pop Mart intentionally abused the process.

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This illustrates the trade-off facing creator platforms. Fast removal limits exposure to infringement claims, but broad matching or rushed processing can take down legitimate accessories, functional designs, commentary, and unrelated work. Manual review improves accuracy but costs more and slows enforcement.

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What the March 2026 settlement changed

Based on the reported public record:

  • The dispute ended in a settlement in March 2026.
  • Bambu Lab apologized.
  • Bambu said relevant problematic content had been removed from MakerWorld.

The public information supplied here does not establish the settlement amount, whether Bambu admitted liability, whether Pop Mart received licensing revenue, whether new moderation technology or manual review was required, whether creators recovered points or income, or whether the agreement applies to every country and related proceeding.

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  • Random Design: Blind boxes are fully random and we cannot accept requests for specific items. There chances of getting the secret edition are usually 1/168. When purchasing the whole set, there will be no duplicates figures. However, if you order multiple single boxes, there is possibility to get duplicates.
  • Ideal Gift Choice: These figures are the perfect gift for any occasion, Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, or New Years. A piece of art expressing deep feelings and complicated emotions, it's also a wonderful home decor gift for your family or friends.
  • Materials and Safety: Standing 4.13 inches in height, each figure is crafted from premium materials including durable PVC plastic, ABS, and paper. Finished with non-toxic, odorless paint, our toys meet rigorous safety standards to ensure a safety for customers.
  • Customer Services: If you receive a damaged item or encounter quality issues, please refer to the contact information on the product detail page, or scan the QR code on the store's home page under the 'Help' section. We are committed to ensuring a satisfying customer experience.

Because the case settled rather than producing a merits judgment, it should not be described as a legal precedent deciding when every 3D-printing repository is liable for user uploads.

What creators should do

Higher-risk uploads

  • Direct Labubu character sculptures or near-exact toy reproductions.
  • Listings using LABUBU or Pop Mart branding in titles, thumbnails, tags, or descriptions.
  • Models marketed as “official,” “authentic,” or replacement products.
  • Files sold for points, commissions, commercial print orders, or other compensation.
  • Official product photographs or promotional artwork copied into a listing.

Lower—but not zero—risk

  • Generic stands or storage systems that do not depict or name Labubu.
  • Original accessories that happen to fit an item a user owns.
  • Clearly original creatures with independent sculptural expression and no copied branding.
  • Transformative commentary, parody, or criticism, subject to local law.

“Functional,” “noncommercial,” or “fan-made” does not automatically make a file lawful. Copyright, trademark, platform rules, and commercial-use restrictions can apply differently.

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If your model is removed

  1. Save the notice, model URL, screenshots, timestamps, and original CAD files.
  2. Check whether the model is deleted or merely hidden from search.
  3. Review the title, tags, images, remixes, and description for third-party branding.
  4. Use MakerWorld’s available appeal or support route and explain the model’s provenance.
  5. Attach evidence of independent authorship or a license where relevant.
  6. Do not repeatedly repost the same file while the dispute is pending.
  7. Avoid publicly accusing a claimant of fraud unless the evidence supports that conclusion.
  8. Consult an intellectual-property lawyer if a business, revenue, formal demand, or legal threat is involved.

What the dispute means for 3D-printing platforms

The case highlights a broader platform-design problem. Repositories must balance quick action against false positives, provide notices specific enough for creators to respond, and decide how much transparency to offer about repeat claims and restoration outcomes.

Creator incentives may also matter. A platform that rewards uploads and integrates them tightly with its printers can look less like a passive file host than a simple image board, even when users create the files. Global availability adds further complexity because copyright, trademark, intermediary-liability, and takedown rules differ among the United States, China, Europe, and other markets.

For creators, keeping local backups and distributing original work under clear licenses can reduce dependence on one repository. Alternative sites such as Printables, Thingiverse, and Thangs may provide additional distribution options, but no platform guarantees immunity from valid complaints.

What readers can safely take from the story

Do not assume that owning a 3D printer gives permission to reproduce a branded character. Use official or properly licensed models, design original work, and treat compatibility accessories differently from character replicas without assuming that the distinction is conclusive.

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For buyers, the dispute is not proof that every Bambu printer or MakerWorld file is problematic. It is a reminder that an integrated ecosystem can be convenient while also concentrating moderation, distribution, rewards, and creator risk in one company. Readers who value ease of use may prefer that integration; those who prioritize open workflows, local control, or independence from one repository should compare alternatives.

Open questions

  • Did the settlement require new moderation or notice-review procedures?
  • Were creator points, visibility, or income restored?
  • Were any disputed models licensed instead of removed?
  • Will other rights holders bring similar claims against model repositories?
  • Will platforms publish meaningful transparency reports about IP complaints, removals, appeals, and restorations?

For now, the clearest conclusion is limited but significant: Pop Mart’s Labubu dispute with Bambu Lab ended in a reported settlement, while the takedown controversy showed how quickly a platform’s effort to remove allegedly infringing files can affect legitimate creators too.

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