Warren Buffett is a person of many ventures, but his latest legal endeavor is full of animosity.
Berkshire-Hathaway-owned Jazwares, which creates the now-viral Squishmallows plush toys, is suing the well-known stuffed animal maker, Build-A-Bear, in Los Angeles Court for its recent line of stuffed toys called Skoosherz, which Jazwares claims is a “knockoff” of Squishmallows.
“Relating to mental property rights, imitation just isn’t the sincerest type of flattery,” said Jazwares’ lawyer, Moez Kaba, in an announcement per Reuters.
Related: ‘It’s an Addiction’: The Rise of the Squishmallows, an Irresistible Plush Toy With an Adult Fanbase
Jazwares claims that Build-A-Bear has “blatantly and intentionally” copied Squishmallows designs, that are based on “simplified Asian style Kawaii faces,” and that, in doing so, the corporate violated mental property rights.
Squishmallows first rolled out in 2017 and were characteristically known for his or her supersoft and shapes that make them conducive to cuddling and stacking. There are greater than 100 variations of Squishmallows based on all the things from animals to food items to movie characters — even Buffett has his own Squishmallow.
The brand gained mass popularity in 2020 after going viral on TikTok throughout the pandemic when many were focused on purchasing comfort items for his or her homes as a consequence of quarantine and social distancing rules.
@toysruscanada Replying to @emily_b871 #squishmallows #toysrus #fyp #trend #dance ♬ original sound – Coach
Now, celebrities comparable to Kim Kardashian and Lady Gaga are amongst those with collections of the plush toys.
Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway purchased the parent company of Jazwares, Alleghany, in 2022.
Related: Construct-a-Bear Attracts Adult Consumers Because of TikTok Influencers
In response to Monday’s lawsuit, Build-A-Bear countersued Jazwares, claiming that Skoosherz is predicated on Build-A-Bear’s existing plush toys and that the corporate has been clear about that in marketing materials.
Jazwares is asking the court to ban Build-A-Bear from selling Skoosherz in addition to looking for an unspecified amount in damages, while Build-A-Bear is asking for the court to state that it didn’t violate any copyright infringement and that Squishmallows doesn’t have the precise to ask for the corporate to stop selling Skoosherz.