All articles tagged with #jazwares
Stuffed toy-makers Build-A-Bear and Jazwares, owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, have filed dueling lawsuits, with Jazwares accusing Build-A-Bear of copying its Squishmallow designs and seeking an order for them to stop making their Skoosherz line of toys, while Build-A-Bear claims that Squishmallows lack a consistent look and feel and wants a court declaration that it did not infringe Jazwares' "trade dress" rights.
Warren Buffett's company Jazwares, maker of the popular Squishmallows plush toys, is suing Build-A-Bear Workshop over its new Skoosherz plush toy line, alleging that they are "knockoffs" that infringe on its intellectual property rights. Build-A-Bear has filed a countersuit, claiming that Skoosherz are based on its existing plush animals. The dispute marks Jazwares' latest effort to protect Squishmallows from alleged knockoffs and counterfeits, including a lawsuit against online retail platform Alibaba. Squishmallows, which gained popularity through TikTok and celebrity endorsements, have been a part of Warren Buffett's Berkshire since it acquired Jazwares' parent company in 2022.
Jazwares, the maker of Squishmallows plush toys owned by Berkshire Hathaway, has sued Build-A-Bear Workshop for allegedly infringing its intellectual property rights with its new Skoosherz plush toy line, while Build-A-Bear has filed a countersuit claiming that Skoosherz is based on its existing plush animals. The legal dispute marks Jazwares' latest effort to protect Squishmallows from alleged knockoffs and counterfeits, and both companies are seeking court declarations and damages.
Squishmallows, the soft, squeezable plush toy designed as animals or inanimate objects with big bellies and sweet faces, has surged in popularity with all age groups. According to Jazwares, which acquired Squishmallow parent company KellyToy in 2019, fans 18 and up are driving sales. The fandom is often likened to the Beanie Baby craze and on its way to be an enduring brand like Hello Kitty and Pokémon. The toy isn’t a fad, said toy expert and consultant Chris Byrne. It hasn’t become mainstream yet. Rather, it’s all about the fans.
McDonald's is partnering with Jazwares to bring Squishmallows plush toys to Happy Meals this spring. Each Happy Meal will come with one of 24 collectible Squishmallows, including exclusive and seasonal designs made specifically for this promotion. 14 of the plush toys will come with an exclusive playlist created by Universal Music Group. Squishmallows exploded in popularity during the early COVID-19 pandemic and have a thriving collectors market.
Squishmallows, the popular soft and squishy stuffed toys, will be featured in McDonald's Happy Meals across the U.S. this spring. The promotion will include 24 collectible Squishmallows, with 14 of them having a playlist matching their personality created by Universal Music Group. The partnership between Jazwares, the company that produces the cuddly toys, and McDonald's will mark the first time exclusive music playlists will be added to Happy Meal toys.
McDonald's Happy Meals will soon include 24 exclusive Squishmallows, with 14 of them featuring an exclusive playlist created by Universal Music Group. Each participating McDonald's will offer 10 or 12 unique versions of the plushes, which will be placed inside a Squishmallow-themed Happy Meal box. The exact rollout date is unknown. Squishmallows were first launched in 2017 and have grown in popularity over the years, becoming the No. 1 best-selling toy last year.