Jazwares claims that rival has created its own pillow-like toys to cash in on its viral success
The company behind Squishmallows, the squidgy pillows-with-a-face that count Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian among their fans, has filed a lawsuit against Build-A-Bear over claims it has produced a “knock-off” to cash in on its success.
Jazwares, which Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway acquired two years ago as Squishmallows became a global TikTok sensation, said that Build-A-Bear Workshop’s new Skoosherz toys look too similar to its own plush, huggable toy.
Build-A-Bear, which launched the Skoosherz line last month in the run-up to Valentine’s Day, struck back immediately with its own legal action claiming that its £18 cuddly pillow-like toys-with-faces are an extension of its existing animal range.
Considering there’s dozens of Squishmallow knock-offs at this point (my daughter likes them), I don’t know that this case will go anywhere.
I find it hard to believe any of them are the first pillow-with-a-face toys
There were almost certainly happy face pillows during the 1970s happy face craze.
I’ve tried searching, but every search term I’ve tried comes up with modern pillows with a retro look to them.
But if there weren’t happy face pillows back then, I honestly would be very surprised.
I mean theres this https://www.pinterest.com/pin/355643701821790428/
I would say the McDonald’s Fry Guy pillow below that one is closer to a Squishmallow, at least aesthetically. I suppose they could argue that they aren’t the sort of soft and squishy pillow that Squishmallow is, but like I said, there are tons of Squishmallow knock-offs. Walmarts are full of them.
I mean Disney makes them.