Reassembled Playmobil figures 'projected violent image'
Playmobil's image revolves around helping children experience life through play. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli.
Stolen Playmobil toy characters were sold on the internet after they were reassembled into macabre-looking knights holding bloody decapitated plastic heads, a court heard yesterday.
These illegal Playmobil characters were not assembled or packaged according to the company's standards, Playmobil representative Anna Agius told Magistrate Edwina Grima.
This risked damaging the company's image that revolved around helping children experience life through play, she added.
She explained that Playmobil had received reports that stolen characters were being sold in a Buġibba shop and also on eBay - an international internet site for buying and selling goods.
Some of the characters sold on eBay went against company image as they projected a violent message. Some showed a knight holding a head with a spear lodged in it.
Ms Agius was concerned that if the German head office was not satisfied with Malta's safety standards this could jeopardise the job of about 800 employees at the Malta Playmobil factory in Ħal Far.
Ms Agius testified in the case against Francis Difesa, 51, of St Paul's Bay who was arraigned for illegally selling stolen Playmobil parts to the Buġibba shop. The shop owner is also expected to be charged.
In a separate case Nadine Cutajar, 26, of Għaxaq was charged with selling the toy characters on eBay but was not charged in connection with the macabre figures. Police will be arraigning the person who assembled the bloody toys. Both Mr Difesa and Ms Cutajar pleaded not guilty to handling stolen property, tampering with Playmobil toy characters without authorisation, circulating the manipulated toys and breaching copyright on the company trademark on and before March.
During her testimony Ms Agius explained that tourists informed the company that they had bought a bag filled with Playmobil characters from a Buġibba shop.
Company representatives went to the shop and found that it was true. The shop was selling bags containing about 10 to 20 characters for a ridiculously cheap price, she said.
It turned out that the parts belonged to the company however they were not assembled or packaged according to company standards and had not passed safety tests.
She explained that Playmobil figures were all assembled in Malta. The factory, based in Ħal Far, subcontracted assembly works to smaller companies which carried out the job according to set standards.
Meanwhile, she said, the mother company informed Playmobil in Malta that some figures were being sold illegally on eBay.
Testifying in the case of Mr Difesa, Police Inspector Carmelo Magri said investigations led police to the accused. During a search at his house police found bags filled with Playmobil parts and a machine used for sealing plastic bags.
Mr Difesa cooperated fully with the police and explained that he bought the parts from people who were subcontracted by Playmobil to assemble the characters, the inspector said.
However, he added, Mr Difesa said he was under the impression that he was not doing anything illegal as he was buying their left-over parts. However, the inspector added, subcontractors were bound to return left over pieces to the company. Mr Difesa also admitted selling the toys to the owner of a shop in Buġibba, he said.
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Anita derima
Mar 9th 2010, 18:53
I went to playmobil today with my teacher. i loved there and the toys we used to play with. it was fun! i wish to go there again, it was fabulous!!!! i am thanking the workers that work in there for the toys and the permision they gave us to play. i loved the kiosk at playmobil and the food. bye see you there i hope
thanks. love,
A. D.
Noel Zarb
Jun 17th 2009, 11:27
@Mr Casha
I think you are missing the whole point of this case. It is not about modifying the figures but it is primarily all about portraying the right image for the children, not to mention the safety of the toys. Being a "Made in Europe" product, I am sure that Playmobil has a considerable amount of safety and quality standards to which each and every product should adhere.
Therefore, items being sold, without the safety and quality stamp from Playmobil are putting children at risk all the time, be of hazard to the children, which I am sure is not what Playmobil is all about.
Ramon Casha
Jun 17th 2009, 08:58
In this case, Playmobil is trying to take what is not theirs. The resale of modified items is a perfectly normal thing and protected under fair use clauses the world over. Just because Playmobil produce them does not give them the right to restrict how they may be used.
J Oatmon
Jun 17th 2009, 08:34
@ Ramon Casha - "tampering with Playmobil toy characters without authorisation".
This may seem insignificant - but it is a big issue, because all toys in the EU have to conform to strict safety standards to protect young children.
The paint used must be safe (kids put stuff in their mouths all the time), and pieces must not break off easily - which a child can then swallow, no sharp pins allowed etc.
'Knock offs' ot the real thing are a menace, because they look like the real thing, but they are usually sub-standard and unsafe - and with kids this is not acceptable.
Noel Zarb
Jun 16th 2009, 15:43
Mr Casha, just cos other companies do not take any interest in what goes sold on ebay under their name, doesn't mean that Playmobil is doing anything wrong. It is quite clear that this company is quite a strong believer in the quality and the safety of its toys, which is clearly seen in the fact that this company is still producing successful ranges year in year out.
The article clearly implies that the company is all about portraying the right image for its main customers who are the kids....so hats off to Playmobil for this court case, let this be the start of a trend to eliminate the abuse which seems to be going on in Malta, ever since employers started giving the opportunity for people to work from the comfort of their own home.
jcmicallef
Jun 16th 2009, 12:59
@Ramon Casha - in agreement.
As a model builder myself, I take special pride (and joy) modifying scale models, and if someone is ready to buy them, I'll be even happier! Models of cars I detest usually become part of an accident scene in a diorama...
Thank goodness no one had the brilliant idea of turning Playmobil items into 'Pornmobil'...they can bend very easily!!! :-)...or have they?
Ramon Casha
Jun 16th 2009, 11:02
Leaving aside the bit about stolen property, I'm a bit concerned about the accusation of "tampering with Playmobil toy characters without authorisation". What authorisation is needed? eBay is full of well known brands being re-sold in a modified form, including iPhones with airbrushed cases, Barbie dolls with unique costumes etc. People can similarly sell second-hand cars with all the internal trimmings changed, new wheels and spoilers and sprayed in a colour that the manufacturer can't even pronounce.
Please choose the reason of your report below: