In late February 2026, Pioneer Smart Technology unexpectedly found itself served with legal papers from Pop Mart, alleging copyright infringement—all without any prior contact or warning. However, in a recent development, the founders of both companies, Tao Ye of Pioneer Smart and Wang Ning of Pop Mart, have initiated direct discussions to address the infringement dispute, exploring potential avenues for settlement and even future collaboration. Legal and business teams from both sides are closely monitoring the outcomes of these high-level talks, which could shape the resolution of the conflict.

At the heart of the dispute are numerous 3D-printed models featuring Pop Mart’s beloved intellectual properties (IPs), such as Labubu, that were available on Pioneer Smart’s MakerWorld platform. Users could freely download and print these models, prompting Pop Mart to accuse Pioneer Smart of violating its IP reproduction rights and information network dissemination rights. In response, Pioneer Smart has invoked the "safe harbor principle," arguing that it merely serves as an information storage space and is not directly responsible for the content uploaded by users. As a precautionary measure, MakerWorld has promptly removed all related models from its platform.