Summary
Highlights
Disney is suing the Chinese company behind 'The Autobots', an animated film about smart cars, alleging it copied elements from their Pixar film 'Cars'. This lawsuit is significant given Disney's recent expansion in China, including the opening of a new Disneyland and the success of films like 'Zootopia' and 'Big Hero 6'.
Local media report that Disney claims 'The Autobots' characters and movie poster are clear rip-offs of 'Cars'. Furthermore, the Chinese titles of both movies are apparently nearly identical. Disney is demanding the Chinese company cease distribution and is seeking approximately $600,000 in compensation.
The director of 'The Autobots' denies plagiarism, stating he had never seen the Disney Pixar film. Despite a planned 3D sequel, the first 'Autobots' film performed poorly, with 94% of 13,000 reviewers on Douban giving it only one star. Critics highlighted that many people were defrauded into believing it was 'Cars' and that the movie was made primarily for government subsidies.