Firm Sues Over Alleged Copies of Toy Ponies

In the Old West, they used to hang horse thieves. Now they just sue them.

At least that is the approach Hong Kong-based Lanard Toys Ltd. took last week after one of its employees discovered alleged copies of the corporation’s trademark toy ponies for sale at an Oxnard discount store.

The company’s attorney, Richard Sybert, sent a letter two months ago demanding that the store halt its sales of the small pastel pony dolls.

But after receiving no response to the letter, Lanard filed a lawsuit in Ventura County Superior Court accusing Discount Center 97-Cents and its owner, Danny Tan Le, of copyright infringement and unfair business competition.

The suit seeks unspecified damages, as well as the destruction of the store’s plastic Beauty Ponies, which Lanard charges are knockoffs of their Party Ponies.

Le was vacationing out of the country and could not be reached for comment. But an employee at his Ventura Road store said workers stripped the shelves of the $1.49 ponies after being confronted by Sybert.