Glitch in the Merch: Australian Animation Studio Sues Over Alleged Counterfeit Circus

Glitch Productions Pty Ltd, an Australian animation studio behind hit web series like The Amazing Digital Circus, has filed a lawsuit against various individuals and businesses operating e-commerce stores under various aliases. These stores are accused of selling counterfeit merchandise featuring Glitch’s registered trademarks without permission.

Founded in 2017, Glitch is known for its distinctive 3D animation style and has built a global fanbase with over 8.5 million YouTube subscribers. Its show The Amazing Digital Circus, created by Gooseworx, became a viral success after its October 2023 debut, amassing hundreds of millions of views and expanding to Netflix in 2024. Glitch sells official merchandise—such as clothing, figures, and posters—through its online store, with trademarks recognized in the U.S. and internationally.

The complaint alleges that the defendants target U.S. consumers, including in Indiana, by running interactive storefronts that accept U.S. dollars, ship domestically, and present counterfeit items as official products. Glitch claims the defendants intentionally copy its branding to mislead buyers and weaken its trademark value. The company states it has not authorized these sellers and that their actions violate its intellectual property rights.

The suit also claims the defendants conceal their identities through tactics like using aliases, false registration details, and offshore accounts. Glitch argues that platforms like Alibaba enable this behavior through insufficient seller verification.

Glitch seeks both injunctive and financial relief, asking the court to block the defendants from using its trademarks or selling fake goods, disable their online stores and ads, and order the return of profits from infringing sales—or alternatively, award statutory damages for willful trademark infringement.

The case has been assigned to Judge Gretchen S. Lund and Magistrate Judge John E. Martin in the U.S. District Court of Northern Indiana Case No. 2:25-cv-00161-GSL-JEM.

Complaint