Photo: Instagram/Xuxa/Poppoca Moderna
The Rio de Janeiro judiciary ordered Xuxa Promoções e Produções, Xuxa Meneghel’s company, to pay more than R$65 million for embezzling characters created by a Minas Gerais businessman.
The originator of the action, publicist Leonardo Soltz, claims that the characters from A Turma do Cabralzinho, which he created to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the discovery of Brazil, were copied in a project by Xuxa’s company that would have made profits and licenses with history.
According to the lawsuit, Leonardo Soltz had meetings with the Xuxa team in 1998 and 1999 to discuss the characters. But instead of making a deal, Xuxa’s company would have appropriated the characters he created to start Turma da Xuxinha Discovering Brazil.
The presenter’s launch was a success, and “Turma da Xuxinha” completed licensing for a cosmetics line for children. The product has also been made into comics and stuffed animals.
The procedure has been running since 2004. According to G1, the parties have already tried unsuccessfully to reach an agreement.
The calculation of BRL 65 million took into account the circulation of the magazine and the reproduction of illustrations of the characters in other products, in addition to considering other publications used as reference.
The expert responsible for the assessment claims that the 19year duration of the legal dispute increased the amount due.
The defense of Xuxa Promoções e Produções tried to point to the expert’s suspicions, which were dismissed by Judge Flávia Viveiros de Castro of the 6th Civil Court in Barra da Tijuca, Rio West Zone.
At trial, the judge says: “The defendant uses unethical maneuvers to arouse the suspicion of the expert, who is an appropriate professional working for this court and others of this E. Court, without his professional reputation ever being called into question .”
The decision can still be appealed, but if Xuxa does not appeal to the court, the assets could be confiscated.
Photo: Reproduction / Modern Popcorn
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