Cartoon cat sparks row in China

The famous cartoon has inspired a recent film Garfield: The Movie

A copyright infringement row over cartoon cat Garfield has set fur flying in China, according to local media.

US firm Paws Incorporated has accused three Chinese companies of publishing Garfield books without permission, the China Daily newspaper reports.

The three companies have denied wrongdoing and are contesting the case in court, the newspaper said.

Garfield, a daily comic strip about a mischievous cat, is syndicated in newspapers worldwide.

It is estimated that some 260 million people regularly read the comic.

Compensation demand

The case is being heard in the Beijing Second Intermediate People's Court against Beijing Kewen Book Information Technology Co. Ltd., Beijing Science and Culture Cambridge Co. Ltd. and Xiwang Publishing House, the newspaper said.

It said that Paws Incorporated's attorney accused the companies of illegally publishing and selling the Garfield books.

The firm also demanded a public apology and asked for compensation of almost 800,000 yuan ($93,000) to pay the plaintiff's bill for filing the case.

An attorney for the Chinese companies said Paw Incorporated did not have the right to file a lawsuit, arguing that it was not the owner of the Garfield copyright.

"As the two sides still have to put forward more evidence, Friday's trial only heard the statement and argument of the two sides but did not give a verdict," the China Daily said.

Chinese officials put the market value of counterfeit goods in China reaches at about $24bn (£13bn) annually.

They say the bogus trade affects a wide range of US brands, including films, music and software.