Plush wars? Squishmallows toy maker and Build-A-Bear sue each other over ‘copycat’ accusations

News Snapshot:

It turns out there are lots of sharp elbows in the plush toy business. Build-A-Bear and the makers of Squishmallows are facing off in federal court. Kelly Toys and its Berkshire Hathaway-controlled parent company Jazwares have sued Build-A-Bear, saying its new “Skoosherz” toys copy the look and feel of their mega-popular Squishmallows products. The Skoosherz line, which Build-A-Bear began selling last month, has the “same distinctive trade dress” of Squishmallows, the complaint filed Monday says, pointing to similarities in shape, face style, colouring and fabric. “If a picture is worth a thousand words, comparing the Squishmallows original products to Build-a-Bear’s...