After the successful release of 2019’s series of Minifigure Packs, we now have a new entry in the series that will add more value and accessories to that custom LEGO amusement park that you might be working on. Official images of the LEGO Fairground Minifigures Pack (40373) were seen online courtesy of Promobricks.
Similar to last year’s releases, this upcoming fairground-themed minifig pack comes in at 51 pieces with four minifigures: a young girl and his dad visiting the fair, and two amusement park attendants. It also comes with a small shooting gallery build with targets, stud shooter and teddy bear prizes.
The LEGO Fairground Minifigures Pack (40373) is not yet listed at LEGO Shop@Home as of posting but it is expected to retail for $12.99, same as its predecessors. There’s also an upcoming LEGO Ninjago Minifigure Pack (40374) that comes in 73 pieces and follows the one that was released last year. We don’t have good, clear images of this yet but based on Promobrick’s report, it will feature a golden Zane minifigure with three black minifigures, probably similar to the Oni Battlepack characters.
Be sure to stay tuned here on our blog site for more updates on this latest minifig pack.
After a seemingly long road of protecting its copyrights, The LEGO Group and fans of the brand have another reason to celebrate. Since news of TLG’s legal actions against Chinese counterfeit brand, Lepin, came out two years ago, the Guangzhou Intellectual Property Court in China has now laid out its final decisions in favor of LEGO. Ultimately, Lepin loses in court and consumers once again are protected from fake LEGO products.
After the November 2018 ruling against Shantou Meizhi Model Co., Ltd, the company responsible for the production and proliferation of Lepin products both locally and internationally, has filed several appeals in court. However, in its final decision, the courts have found the defendant guilty of 18 counts of copyright infringement against the LEGO brand.
Furthermore, Shantou Meizhi Model Co. is ordered to pay The LEGO Group the total amount of RMB 4.7 million, around DKK 4.5 million (approximately $700,000) for damages, make a public apology on the country’s most widely recognized toy organization websites, and to finally cease the production of such LEGO counterfeit products.
Image credit: Shanghai Police via Weibo
Here’s the complete press release that details what will happen next now that Lepin loses in court. For authentic LEGO products and sets, be sure to check with LEGO Shop@Home or at your nearest LEGO brand store.
The LEGO Group wins final decisions in major intellectual property lawsuits against Lepin manufacturer in China
The LEGO Group announced today that it has received favourable final decisions from the Guangzhou Intellectual Property Court against the appeals raised by defendants of multiple intellectual property infringement cases in China. It marks a significant legal victory for the LEGO Group to combat against imitators.
The court decided to uphold all of the first-instance rulings on the 18 copyright infringement and one unfair competition cases, which were handed down in favour of the LEGO Group in November 2018. These second-instance decisions are final and have entered into legal effect immediately upon issuance.
In these cases, Shantou Meizhi Model Co., Ltd. and its affiliates are liable of manufacturing and selling the infringing Lepin products. The 18 LEGO® sets and corresponding LEGO minifigures at dispute, are ruled as artworks protected under China Copyright Law belonging to the LEGO Group. Unauthorized copies of the same constitute copyright infringement, said the court.
The LEGO NINJAGO, NEXO KNIGHTS, and LEGENDS OF CHIMA series of toy sets are recognized by the court as products of certain influence in China. The trade dress for these products (and packaging) as well as the characters of LEGO NINJAGO are protected under the Anti-Unfair Competition Law in China, the court said in the final ruling.
Meizhi Model and all other defendants are ordered to cease infringement immediately, and to pay the LEGO Group a total of RMB 4.7 million (around DKK 4.5m) as damages. They are also ordered to make a public apology on the websites of China Toy and Juvenile Products Association and Guangdong Toy Association to the LEGO Group for Lepin infringement.
Robin Smith, Vice President and General Counsel, China & Asia Pacific, The LEGO Group, said “[i]ntellectual property rights are very important to the LEGO Group, and we constantly strive to enforce and protect our LEGO trademarks, copyrights, designs and patents. We are pleased with the court’s final decision and appreciate the efforts from all stakeholders in this case. It also shows the Chinese authorities’ commitment in creating a favourable business environment for multinational companies.”
The LEGO Group will follow up with the court on the collection of damages granted and enforcement of public apologies by Meizhi Model. It will also continue to support Shanghai police and procuratorate in the ongoing criminal case against executives of Meizhi Model who were arrested during the police’s raid against Lepin factories in April 2019.
The LEGO Group is dedicated to enforcing intellectual property rights against copiers and infringers and to protect its consumers. It has obtained many positive outcomes in its intellectual property enforcement actions in China in the past several years. In October 2017, the LEGO Group won a case at Shantou Intermediate Court against Bela, a Chinese toy manufacturer, for infringing the copyrights of the LEGO Group and for unfair competition. In another case decided earlier in July 2017, the LEGO logo and the LEGO word mark were recognized by the Beijing Higher Court as “well-known” trademarks in China.
Following the first LEGO Ideas product idea to qualify for the First 2020 Review Stage, we now have another entry to garner 10K support from LEGO fans. The LEGO Ideas Tesla Cybertruck by BrickinNick now shares the stage with Mary Poppins Cherry Tree Lane to become a possible set LEGO set later on.
The LEGO Ideas Tesla Cybertruck is based on Elon Musk’s vision of a ‘cyberpunk’ electric vehicle that is touted to have “better utility than a truck with more performance than a sports car”. This brick rendition by BrickinNick attempts to replicate this vision by adding certain play features such as a working frunk (front trunk) or hood and tailgate functions similar to its real-life counterpart. He also upped the ante with this product idea by adding functional side doors, a mini-Tesla Cybertruck, Cyberquad, and a ramp.
Read on for the complete description of this product idea.
LEGO Ideas Cybertruck
“Better utility than a truck with more performance than a sports car” – Tesla Motors
The Tesla Cybertruck is one of the most polarizing vehicles ever. And it’s an all-electric one at that. As a long-time electric vehicle (EV) fan, I was excited for Tesla to be bringing out their own “Cyberpunk” inspired pickup truck. So much so, that I decided to build my own. Together, we can bring this crazy all-electric vehicle to LEGO fans all over the world!
About the build…
While it’s design may not be for everyone, many different elements and functions of the Cybertruck lend themselves well to an electrifying LEGO build. At this time, only the frunk (front trunk) and tailgate function. Opening passenger doors, a full interior, fold or slide-out ramp, opening charging ports, steering, suspension, the Tesla ATV, and more could all be integrated (and are being worked on for future project updates) making for an incredibly fun building experience. LEGO motorization could even turn this into a truly all-electric vehicle in brick form!
Dimensions: 35.6 cm L x 15.2 cm W x 12.7 cm H (14″ L x 6″ W x 5″ H)
Why will this make for a great LEGO set?
Tesla’s mission has always been to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy. This aligns with the LEGO Group’s goal of sustainability and leaving a positive impact on the planet. As of yet, EVs have only been marginally represented in the LEGO set catalog. The striking yet fun design of this LEGO Cybertruck would be an amazing way to get kids and adults alike excited about EVs and all the good they can do for our environment.
Following the arrival of our first LEGO BrickHeadz seasonal set for 2020, the LEGO BrickHeadz Lucky Cat (40436) and Valentine’s Bear (40379) will now be joined by our next, blocky collectible set – the LEGO BrickHeadz Easter Sheep (40380).
This next seasonal BrickHeadz set comes in at 192 pieces and will retail for $9.99 once it is made available on February 1. Here’s how LEGO describes this set, as it is now listed at LEGO Shop@Home.
Looking for a unique gift for Easter Sunday 2020? Then check out this lovable LEGO® BrickHeadz™ Easter Sheep (40380). With a colorful tulip growing at one side and 2 Easter eggs at the other, the super-cute sheep is using a paint pot and brush to color the eggs. No wonder there are paint splashes on its wool! Standing on a sturdy baseplate, the Easter Sheep is a fun, lasting gift idea for him, her, kids, boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife… at any time of year!
This collectible LEGO® BrickHeadz™ buildable model of a cute sheep painting Easter eggs makes a perfect gift for Easter and looks adorable all year round.
A fun way to wish a friend or family member ‘Happy Easter’, this set is a suitable building toy for anyone aged 10 and up.
With 192 pieces and standing more than 3” (8cm) tall, this is a great buildable BrickHeadz™ sheep gift for kids, him, her, boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife… anyone who deserves a fun start to their Easter!
The LEGO BrickHeadz Easter Sheep is just one of the many BrickHeadz lined-up to be released this year, proof that the theme still has a strong fan base. Other than LEGO BrickHeadz Donald Duck (40377), and Goofy and Pluto (40378), we can still expect 7 or more licensed BrickHeadz sets to be offered later this year including tie-in sets for the upcoming Minions: The Rise of Gru animated movie.
It’s confirmed – MCU’s spin-off film Black Widow now officially gets the LEGO treatment. Yahoo! has just revealed the LEGO Marvel Black Widow’s Helicopter Chase (76162) featuring what seems to be one of the key scenes that were shown early on its official teaser trailer. This latest MCU-inspired LEGO set is one of the many Black Widow tie-in merchandises that will roll-in the next months leading to the film’s release in May.
The LEGO Marvel Black Widow’s Helicopter Chase (76162) set comes in at 271 pieces and features a newer minifig version of Black Widow, Yelena Belova, and Taskmaster. Perhaps what is most interesting about this minifigure lineup is the character of Taskmaster. He (or she?) comes with a minifig accessory that features a stealth slash sword that also acts as a shield.
The Taskmaster as seen in Disney Marvel’s Black Widow.
As Yahoo reports, the Black Widow’s Helicopter Chase (76162) will have an early release in Target stores starting March 1, and at Disney Parks in April. It is yet to be seen if this is an exclusive release limited only to these stores and locations, but my best guess is that it will arrive later on at LEGO Shop@Home. We’re not sure also if this is the only set to be offered under this subtheme like what LEGO did with the Captain Marvel and Skrull Attack (76127). As a matter of fact, there’s seems to be no discernable formula on which particular film will get a LEGO tie-in set or two, so we just have to wait and see until Black Widow arrives on the big screen.
Here’s what Yahoo has to say about the Black Widow Helicopter Chase (76162).
Get airborne with a 271-piece Lego set recreating what’s sure to be one of the most explosive action set-pieces in Black Widow. Natasha and Yelena take the fight to Taskmaster aboard the villain’s personal chopper, tricked out with four stud shooters and twin rifles with deadly aim. Available for $29.99 at Target on March 1 and at Disney Parks in April.
So what do you think about this new LEGO set? How much do you think this LEGO set will be movie-accurate? Let us know in the comments below.
Here’s another treat from LEGO, and it looks like the LEGO VIP Rewards Center got more interesting. Following a rather indefinite hiatus, the revamped LEGO VIP Rewards Center was now updated to include several highly-prized LEGO exclusives that you may have likewise missed. As reported by Allen from The Brick Fan, the Rewards Center has now added a sweepstake where VIP members can have the chance to win an uber-exclusive LEGO SDCC 2012 Shazam Minifigure.
The exclusive LEGO SDCC 2012 Shazam minifigure which was raffled away during San Diego Comic-Con 2012 will now be available as a reward item at the LEGO VIP Reward Center.
The mechanics are pretty simple. You use your LEGO VIP points to purchase raffle entries in order to join. Each raffle entry for this LEGO SDCC 2012 Shazam Minifigure will cost you 50 VIP points, while you are allowed to submit up to 15 entries to up your chances of winning.
Furthermore, this minifigure sweepstakes promo, according to the LEGO Ambassador Network, will be a regular part of the LEGO VIP Rewards Center starting with the LEGO SDCC 2012 Shazam Minifigure. Other future minifigure raffles will include a signed Star Wars minifigure and an exclusive version of a Marvel character. Though I’m not really a fan of exclusive, event-specific LEGO releases, I just hope these future prizes will include never-before-seen minifigure characters from these franchises. Or it could be from their non-licensed repertoire like the return of Mr. Gold (71001) perhaps.
Here’s the news as it is from the LEGO Ambassador Network.
Reward Centre-specific items, we are looking to kick off our first Exclusive minifigure sweepstake in February with a 2012 San Diego Comic-Con “Shazam!” minifigure where people from the following countries are allowed to participate***. VIP Members can enter the competition by redeeming 50 VIP points (up to a maximum of 15 entries) with the winner being drawn at random (postcard entries applicable where local law dictates).
The Rewards team intend to operate these sweepstakes every month starting 10th February and running until 2nd March for Shazam! Upcoming minifigure sweepstakes will include a signed Star Wars minifigure and an exclusive version of a Marvel character.
With regards to other items upcoming on the Reward Centre (dates to be confirmed) are designer-signed Imperial Star Destroyer sets and designer-signed Star Wars Visual Dictionary copies.
LEGO and Manchester United fans can finally bring home the LEGO Creator Expert Old Trafford-Manchester United (10272) now that it is available both in-store and online. The best part of it is that as a LEGO VIP, you will be entitled to have the exclusive LEGO United Trinity Statue (5006171) minifigures as a gift-with-purchase (GWP) when you buy the Old Trafford-Manchester United (10272) set.
It’s also great to know that this promo was eventually made available to all LEGO VIPs regardless of region, as I hope it to be when I first reported about it a couple of days ago. The LEGO United Trinity Statue (5006171) will be available to all LEGO VIP members from January 16 to 31 or until supplies last. Do us a favor and kindly click on the affiliate links if you wish to make your LEGO purchase today.
Manchester United fans will love building this big LEGO® set model of Old Trafford (10272) to show their allegiance to one of the world’s most famous football clubs. The building set for this LEGO football stadium provides a fun challenge to create a spectacular showpiece model. The ultimate Manchester United gift Manchester United fans can show off this Old Trafford replica at home or the office. New for February 2020, this LEGO® Creator sports set coincides with the stadium’s 110th anniversary. This building kit for adults features several evocative details including the players’ tunnel and the statue of the United Trinity. Bring to life your passions with advanced LEGO® sets! LEGO® Creator Expert advanced building sets allow adults to construct models based on some of their biggest passions, including cars, buildings and stadiums. Once the challenging and fun building experience is complete, these collector models from building bricks make an eye-catching display at home or the office.
UPDATE: LEGO Shop@Home has been updated once again and it turns out, the LEGO Easter Bunny House (853990) will not be a promotional, gift-with-purchase set like we initially thought. It will go on retail for $7.99 and will be available starting February 1. Read on for the set’s official description as published by LEGO.
Celebrate Easter with this fun LEGO® Iconic Easter Bunny House (853990) construction kit for ages 6 and up. The egg-shaped house packaging doubles up as a festive decoration, and it comes with a to/from card, making it an ideal festive gift. Great for display and creative play, the set includes a buildable chicken house, featuring a removable tray to collect the chicken’s egg elements, scooter for the cute Easter Bunny minifigure to ride, plus a brick-built carrot and plants. Enjoy!
Enjoy a very happy Easter with this LEGO® Iconic Easter Bunny House, featuring a buildable chicken house, scooter and plants, an Easter Bunny minifigure and chicken figure for display and creative play.
This 57-piece building toy has egg-shaped house packaging which doubles up as a colorful, festive decoration. It comes with a to/from card to complete an ideal Easter gift for LEGO® fans aged 6 and up.
The chicken house measures more than 1” (4cm) high, 1” (5cm) wide and 1” (4cm) deep, a nice size to slip into a child’s backpack with other builds, minifigure and accessories, ready for play wherever they go.
LEGO servers have been updated once again, revealing another gift-with-purchase (GWP) set to watch out for some time this spring. It has been customary with LEGO to release a GWP set to mark the Easter celebration, and thankfully we now have our first look at what’s in store for this year. Check out these official images of the LEGO Easter Bunny House (853990) seasonal GWP set.
If you recall from two years ago, LEGO has released a similar promotional item in the form of the LEGO Easter Bunny Hut (5005249) which was released in March, 2018. And it seems that the customed Easter Bunny Guy will have his female counterpart from the LEGO Easter Bunny (853990) set.
Other than the fact that the LEGO Easter Bunny Girl minifigure that comes with this latest GWP is the first of its kind, this deal freebie also comes with several LEGO pieces that are appealing. That scooter is definitely a nice give-away plus that chicken figure.
We don’t have the details nor the specifics yet on how we can avail of this promo, but we can bet that more info will most probably come at the on or before the end of this month especially when the February LEGO Store Calendar comes out. In the meantime, be sure to check out our first GWP set of the year which is the LEGO Hidden Side Drag Racer (40408) which will be available from January 24 to February 9. Just be sure to visit LEGO Shop@Home to update your cart with the necessary qualifying purchases.
I’m pretty sure you haven’t seen your ‘ol faithful teddy bear like this before. And with something like this beside your bed at night, while you sleep, you can leave all your security worries behind. For those of you who are familiar with Moko’s superb LEGO MOCs, you are now probably aware that as far as his brick creations are concerned, they’re always, always, more than meets the eye. And this latest brick contraption from his workshop shows that this battle-ready LEGO teddy bear sure means business.
I assume that this brick-built teddy bear has seen better days. Before he saw the necessity of gearing up for an apocalyptic catastrophe, he’s a bit laid back on his own. He knows how to relax and play around like any other teddys.
Just like Moko’s mechanized Mickey and Donald MOCs, this innocent-looking teddy comes with many points of articulation, allowing a wide range of movements and poses.
However, when things begin to get awry, this battle-ready LEGO teddy bear does not shy away from his real vocation- to serve and protect. And it only takes a flick of a button to active his kill switch, and his change in demeanor suddenly becomes clearly obvious.
The wide range of weapons available at his disposal is enough to make any threat have second thoughts going against him head-on. If carrying two rifles will not do the trick, then perhaps his pair of shoulder-mounted missile launchers will do the job.
Not shying away from the use of the latest combat technology, he can clearly measure the enemy’s capabilities using a combination of visual and auditory sensors. And if needed, he can also do an aerial surprise assault with a pair of rocket boosters even the Mandalorian will drool over.
So next time before you go to bed, be sure to have this teddy around for a good night’s sleep. I’m sure he’ll never let you down. And for more of Moko’s awesome original LEGO creations, be sure to check out his Flickr and blogsite pages.
Other than the LEGO Year of the Rat (40355) promotional and the LEGO Star Wars Obi-Wan Collectible Minifigure (30624) that are both available this month, LEGO fans who will time their next LEGO purchases just right may avail of another promotional freebie on top of these aforementioned LEGO giveaways. If you recall from this month’s LEGO Store Calendar, the LEGO Hidden Side Drag Racer (40408) set is the next free item slated to be added to your cart if you will make your next LEGO purchase from January 24 until February 9.
LEGO servers are now updated to include a couple of official images of the LEGO Hidden Side Drag Racer (40408) set. This item comes to you free for every single-receipt purchase of any LEGO products worth $45 and above. As I’ve mentioned earlier and as long as supplies last, you may want to try to place in your LEGO purchases at LEGO Shop@Home or in-store from January 24 to 26 if you want to avail both the exclusive Year of the Rat (40355) set and the Drag Racer (40408). And if you’ll throw in any LEGO Star Wars sets worth $40 and above, you’ll also get the collectible Obi-Wan minifig. So for a total worth of LEGO sets (including Star Wars) of $80 or more, you can bag all three promos in one go. That’s great value for your money if you’ll ask me.
The LEGO Hidden Side Drag Racer (40408) comes in at 134 pieces, including two Jack and Dwayne minifigures. The build itself features a human cannonball kind of play function where you can place a minifig inside the cannon placed at the back of the car. The driver cockpit also seems to be wide enough to accommodate a minifigure.
This latest Hidden Side promotional is the second freebie to be offered under LEGO’s augmented reality theme, following the release of LEGO Hidden Side Newbury Juice Bar (40336) from last year. For more info on the latest LEGO Hidden Side sets, be sure to visit shop.LEGO.com.
