Supercell ordered to redesign Brawl Stars character Sprout in France

A Paris court ruled in December 2025 that Sprout, a character in Supercell’s mobile game Brawl Stars, reproduced key design elements of Mathieu Lehanneur’s Andrea air purifier. The court ordered Supercell to pay more than €370,000 and to stop using Sprout versions in France.

The court identified matching features including a capsule-like body, a transparent rounded dome, visible plant elements, a fan structure and a clear division between upper and lower sections. The judges noted that added features such as robotic arms, wheels and a face did not outweigh the shared characteristics.

Supercell submitted early concept art showing Sprout’s design evolved during development; the judges concluded later versions more closely resembled the Andrea purifier and that the similarities were not coincidental.

The judgment orders provisional compensation of €250,000 for economic damage, €80,000 for moral damages and €40,000 to cover legal costs. The company must provide certified financial reports of revenue from Sprout and related merchandise in France since April 2020. A penalty of €1,000 per day applies if Supercell fails to comply with the ban.

Players noted the removal of several official Sprout artworks from Brawl Stars’ social accounts after the court case. Supercell announced a redesign of Sprout, to appear in Update 68, and indicated the revamp will be described in forthcoming patch notes. The ruling applies to use in France; reports say the character will remain available elsewhere.

Mathieu Lehanneur’s Andrea air purifier was first commercialized in 2009. Brawl Stars, developed by Finnish studio Supercell, features collectible characters, in-game cosmetics and related merchandise.

The court’s decision covers use of Sprout in the game and in advertising or other materials in France and enforces copyright protections for product design when visual elements are replicated in character design.

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