Jellycat Sues Retailers Over Alleged Design Copying
The plush toy company claims Next and Hamleys produced similar, inferior quality items based on their designs.
Cuddly toy company Jellycat has filed lawsuits against retailers Next and Hamleys, alleging they copied designs for plush toys and produced items of inferior quality. High Court documents reveal that Jellycat asserts both companies created products that are substantially similar to its own, leading to potential consumer confusion and loss of sales.
Jellycat's legal team stated that the company has two primary product lines: The Loveables, featuring animals, and Amuseables, which includes nearly 500 everyday objects and food items. The lawsuits specifically mention a biscuit-shaped cushion and doorstop sold by Next, as well as multiple plush toys sold by Hamleys in the shapes of various foods and other items, which Jellycat claims are direct copies.
Stuart Baran, a barrister representing Jellycat, noted that the company sells its products in over 70 countries and has sold more than 11 million Amuseables in the UK alone. He argued that the high degree of similarity in the Next and Hamleys products constitutes a misrepresentation, potentially leading customers to believe they are purchasing genuine Jellycat items. Furthermore, Jellycat contends that the quality of the copied toys is inferior, damaging the company's reputation and impacting its sales.
Jellycat is seeking injunctions to prevent Next and Hamleys from continuing to sell the allegedly infringing products and from engaging in