QP Mayonnaise recently won a legal case where the court recognized that the kewpie mark was an official trademark for the company and could not be used by other firms. However, it also came to light that the copyright on American illustrator Rose O 'Neill's kewpie character, legally distinct from its use as a trademark, had elapsed. Consequently, a unit of Tsubraya Productions, has designed several grotesque kewpies which they are now selling as mobile phone straps. You can see the full line-up on the company website here. Each character is accompanied by its own surreal and unsettling video. The mayonnaise giant is said to be unimpressed but lawyers think that they may have no legal recourse. Japanese story here.
More Kewpie on FG here
