Miffy & Cathy

The Japanese character Hello Kitty is to lose her friend Cathy after a legal battle between Hello Kitty owners Sanrio and Dutch firm Mercis BV, which manages the copyright for Dick Bruna, creator of Miffy.



Mercis sued Sanrio in November 2010 because Cathy looked too much like Miffy.

But the two companies have now reached an out-of-court settlement.

After the March 11th earthquake in Japan, Mercis proposed that the costs of the litigation be donated to post-quake relief efforts.

They agreed to contribute jointly about ￥17.5 million to the victims or for restoration.






I like this solution because I can feel love and dream from both firms.


Any disputes such as Japanese government should follow this idea.