Court Rules “Wolfoo” Illegally Copied Peppa Pig Audio
A London High Court judge has ruled that Vietnamese animation studio SConnect unlawfully copied audio from Hasbro’s Peppa Pig to create its popular YouTube series, Wolfoo. Hasbro, which owns the rights to Peppa Pig, proved that Wolfoo episodes repeatedly used short audio clips of characters saying simple words such as “Hooray!” According to The Guardian, the presiding judge emphasized that the copying was “prolific”, “longstanding” and that the evidence of “copying of the audio clips is compelling.”
Although SConnect claimed an independent third-party contractor added early audio without its knowledge, spectrographic analysis disproved its defense that newer videos relied solely on original sound recordings. The court rejected these claims as lacking substance, noting that unlawful sound reuse continued across the series.
Comparing Global Titans: Peppa Pig vs. Wolfoo
While Wolfoo built a substantial online audience amassing hundreds of millions of views across its YouTube channels, it remains far smaller than the commercial powerhouse of Peppa Pig. Hasbro acquired Peppa Pig owner Entertainment One in a massive $3.8 billion deal, establishing the beloved British pig as a multi-billion-dollar global empire with broadcast deals and merchandise worldwide.
Court proceedings revealed the sheer scale of the infringement, finding Peppa Pig audio clips in all 92 English-language Wolfoo videos examined, alongside 75% of foreign-language episodes reviewed.
Years of Litigation and What Happens Next
The protracted legal dispute began in January 2022, when Hasbro and Peppa Pig creators Astley Baker Davies launched court action against SConnect. The original claim alleged that SConnect attempted “to deceive the young Wolfoo viewership, most aged between two and five, into believing that Wolfoo is the same character as Peppa Pig.”
As highlighted by Cartoon Brew, this intense four-year battle finally concluded with a decisive global takedown order. SConnect has now been ordered to remove all Wolfoo videos from online platforms worldwide—including YouTube, YouTube Kids, and the Wolfoo World website—covering all 166 World Trade Organization member states.
