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BlueBrixx

BlueBrixx
IndustryConstruction toys
Founded2018; 7 years ago (2018) in Flörsheim am Main, Germany
FounderKlaus Kiunke
Headquarters
Flörsheim am Main
,
Germany
Area served
Germany
ProductsBuilding blocks and accessories
OwnerBB Services GmbH
Websitewww.bluebrixx.com

BlueBrixx is a German building block brand[1] that sells Lego-compatible bricks, models, and sets both online and in about 40 stores.[2] The brand is known as a competitor to Lego due to its compatible bricks and lower prices.[3]

A BlueBrixx store in Kaiserslautern

The brand has been registered under BB Services GmbH in Flörsheim am Main since 2019.[1][4] BlueBrixx has repeatedly been involved in legal disputes with Lego.[3][5]

Products

BlueBrixx produces its own brand of building blocks while also selling products from other brands such as CaDa, Cobi, and Xingbao.[6]

BlueBrixx focuses on display models, often featuring detailed and realistic designs rather than play functions.[6] Unlike Lego, BlueBrixx generally avoids licensed products and offers digital-only building instructions for its BlueBrixx Specials series.

While most of its product range remains available indefinitely, some sets are re-released with improvements. The company has also introduced licensed products from franchises such as Star Trek, Stargate, and RoboCop, as well as vehicles from Schlingmann and Ziegler. BlueBrixx has recently expanded into children's toy sets.

History

BlueBrixx was founded in 2018 by German entrepreneur Klaus Kiunke. The company, based in Flörsheim am Main, specializes in distributing building block sets that include both original designs and collaborations with Chinese manufacturers.[7][8]

The first BlueBrixx retail store opened in mid-2020 in Hagen,[9] followed by additional locations in cities like Wildau, Munich, and Nuremberg.[3][10][11] As of January 2025, BlueBrixx operates 39 stores in Germany.[12]

In 2021, Lego obtained an injunction against the sale of certain BlueBrixx minifigures. While Lego's patent protection for its building blocks had expired, it still held trademark rights for minifigures. BlueBrixx appealed the decision, but courts ruled in Lego's favor.[6]

BlueBrixx later sued the European Union Intellectual Property Office before the General Court of the European Union, which upheld the previous ruling in 2023 but acknowledged that Lego-compatible minifigures were not universally protected.[13]

In 2024, Lego filed another lawsuit against BlueBrixx, claiming infringement of industrial design and copyright.[3][11][14]

References

  1. ^ a b Marie-Claire Koch (2023-12-22). "BlueBrixx: Cyberattack on Online Store". Heise (in German). Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  2. ^ "BlueBrixx Stores". Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  3. ^ a b c d David Böcking (2024-04-17). "Building Blocks of Controversy: How BlueBrixx Competes with Lego". Der Spiegel. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  4. ^ "BB Services GmbH, Flörsheim a. Main". NorthData. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  5. ^ Deniz Avan (2021-01-15). "Lawsuit Over Toy Bricks: Lego Sues BlueBrixx". Frankfurter Allgemeine (in German). Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  6. ^ a b c Kirsten Hemmerde (2021-04-22). "Lego and BlueBrixx - Differences and Similarities". Chip. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  7. ^ "BlueBrixx". BlueBrixx (in German). Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  8. ^ Oliver Nickel (2022-06-27). "BlueBrixx Founder Interview: "We Don't Want to Be Lego"". Golem (in German). Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  9. ^ "BlueBrixx Blog". BlueBrixx. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ "BlueBrixx Stores". Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  13. ^ Michael Schäfer (2023-12-14). "Landmark Ruling in BlueBrixx vs. Lego Case". justbricks.de. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  14. ^ "Lego Takes on Rival BlueBrixx Again". NTV (in German). Retrieved 2024-09-03.
Quelle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BlueBrixx