Beijing's Copycat Disneyland Park Sparks Controversy

That's the slogan of Beijing's state sponsored "Shijingshan Amusement Park," a park which isn't generating as much press for making dreams come true as it is for stealing the dreams of others. Beijing's answer to Disneyland has Disney and U.S. government officials as angry as that trademarked cartoon duck with a lisp.

It's easy to see why. Just one look at promotional photographs of the Beijing park and it's instantly clear why people are upset and just downright confused. The park itself contains a replica of Disney's trademark Cinderella Castle and a structure that looks eerily like Epcot's Spaceship Earth. That's only the beginning, however. Shijingshan Amusement Park also contains a host of costumed characters that look amazingly similar to not only Disney's trademark characters, but also Shrek, Hello Kitty and a number of other trademarked characters.

Park officials are quick to deny any wrong-doing. In fact, when the park's president, Liu Jingwang, was interviewed by a local journalist, Jingwang insisted that the trademark mouse character in question wasn't actually a mouse, but a "big-eared cat."

A young mother told China's Business Newspaper, The Standard, that she couldn't understand why others shouldn't be allowed to use the trademarked characters. This sort of statement seems to be indicative of the current atmosphere in Beijing regarding intellectual theft.

Just last month, U.S. officials filed a claim with the World Trade Organization over Beijing's booming piracy business which includes pirated films, music, fake designer goods and other intellectual properties. On Tuesday, the European Union asked to be involved in the talks regarding Beijing's rampant piracy issues following Canada and Japan's move to join the talks. Beijing has warned Washington officials that, if they continue on course with the WTO case, such a case could damage bilateral trade relations.

As for the park, Japanese bloggers have been doing their own bit of investigation. Recently, photos surfaced that included Shijingshan Amusement Park's "unofficial" Donald Duck (who perhaps is just a confused rabbit) posing for pictures with the mascot of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Next year, Beijing will play host to the Olympic Games. This has caused its own bit of controversy due to China's continuing support of the Sudanese government despite the U.S. and Britain's effort to impose sanctions on Sudan in light of the violence in Darfur. Mia Farrow, UN good-will ambassador, recently dubbed the 2008 games "The Genocide Olympics."

In the meantime, Beijing residents don't seem to have an issue with the park and are just happy that their children will finally have a chance to meet Minnie Mouse. Or Minnie Cat. Or whoever.

SOURCES: http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=20&art_id=41990&sid=13078355&con_type=1&d_str=20070411
http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=1678
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/13/news/darfur.php?page=2