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Wednesday, 8th June 2011
In Japan Entertainment News,

Hello Kitty to donate legal costs to quake relief

A long-running copyright row between the Japanese company behind Hello Kitty and the Dutch creator of Miffy has been resolved, with both sides agreeing to donate their legal costs to earthquake relief charities.

The seven-month legal challenge related to Kitty's rabbit friend Cathy, who closely resembles Miffy, the character created by a Dutch children's author in the 1950s.

This dispute was settled yesterday (June 7th), with Sanrio, the owners of Hello Kitty, and Mercis, the firm acting for Miffy's creator Dick Bruna, releasing a joint press statement, Asia One reports.

As a result, Cathy will be phased out of the Hello Kitty collection, while both companies will donate the legal costs that they would have incurred to help with "the reconstruction and recovery of Japan".

The total amount donated is estimated at €150,000 (£135,000), the statement added.

Cathy, who was introduced in 1976, was a long-time companion of Hello Kitty, but fans of the feline character can still visit the two Kitty-themed amusement parks in Japan.

Written by Kimberley Homer