ZAG animation studio has established an anti-piracy department, supported by two new appointments.
The goal of ZAG’s new department is to protect its intellectual property rights for its brands, content, and products in the global marketplace and manage counterfeit enforcement — with an immediate focus on its flagship Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir brand.
Julian Zag, EVP of global operations and head of global consumer products, will lead the anti-piracy efforts. Meanwhile, Marie-Claire Trinh Van Hi and Bei Zhou will join the company as global brand protection analysts. They will report to vice president of global e-commerce, Christophe Vallade, and work in conjunction with senior vice president of legal and litigation, Ben Johnson.
Trinh Van Hi and Zhou’s news roles at ZAG involve scanning online marketplaces to detect, report, and remove counterfeit content and merchandise; leading legal investigations to reduce counterfeit supplies; and protecting the company’s content by analyzing websites and social media.
“ZAG has seen staggering growth over the past few years, with retail sales for Miraculous hitting over one billion dollars this year, and any brand that has amassed such a passionate following creates opportunities for counterfeit content and goods to be created,” said Julian Zag. “Together with dedicated local counterfeit enforcement agencies, our new team will work to ensure that all products and content that fans engage with are approved by ZAG offering the quality and satisfaction they have come to expect.”
Before joining ZAG, Trinh Van Hi served as a brand analyst at Corporation Service Company; and previously as analyst and sub team leader at UK-based Incopro for intellectual property rights protection.
Zhou brings a brand protection background with specific experience on Asian platforms. She previously served as a brand protection consultant for Insiders Corp based in Paris. At ZAG, Zhou’s work to ensure online brand protection will take a specific focus on Asian marketplaces.