Funimation has sued the parent company of the Animeland anime conventions over unlicensed merchandise sold at the shows. The suit, filed in federal court, alleges that Animeland parent Think Art Media, owned by Miller Isaiah Timmons, also produces vinyl decals using anime properties ‘distributed in the U.S. by Funimation.
The suit is not the first contact between Funimation and Timmons, the complaint alleges, recounting that Timmons responded to one warning with, “You can’t be at every convention.”
Illicit merchandise sold at an Animeland convention in Aurora, Colorado last weekend included pocket watches tied to Fullmetal Alchemist, and “Dragon Balls” from Dragon Ball Z, according to the complaint. After being warned about the knock-offs, “…Defendants instructed convention staff specifically not to take any action to remedy the infringing activity,” it said.
The suit requests injunctions requiring that Timmons cease and desist from infringement and turn in infringing products, statutory damages, fees, and costs.
