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Pinata makers facing charges in Mexico

GUADALAJARA, Mexico, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Six individuals involved with an alleged pinata pirating ring in Mexico have been arrested following a major police effort, authorities say.

Mexican attorney general's office spokesman Ulises Enriquez said raids of several businesses in Guadalajara resulted in the seizure of an unspecified number of pinatas that were related to copyright goods, the San Antonio Express-News said Friday.

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This month's police effort was prompted by complaints made by Marvel Entertainment's lawyers in Mexico who alleged illegal Spider-Man products were being produced in Mexico.

An official with Mexico's patent institute, IMPI, told the Express-News while the police effort was the first of its kind in Mexico, current licensing regulations would apply to the criminal case.

"I suppose that if Spider-Man is protected as a work of art ... (the law) could by applied to pinatas," he told the U.S. newspaper.

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