Staff Writer
We all remember Lotso, the “Lots-O’-Huggin” bear who tried to mess with Woody and Buzz Lightyear’s plan to escape from the day-care and get back to Andy in the 2010 hit film Toy Story 3. Well, now Disney is being sued over the use of this bear in the animated film.
The New Jersey-based company that created the “Lots of Hugs” bears says the way Disney used the product is a “trademark violation that caused unfair competition for its business” (Huffington Post).
In a 14-page complaint, Diece-Lisa Industries (DLI), the company that has been selling the bears since 1995, alleges that Disney Enterprises Inc. owe them money, arguing that Toy Story 3 had a negative effect on marketing the toy.
Back in 2011, a DLI affiliate got into a license agreement with Interactive Group which would allow the company to market and sell DLI’s bears. However, the company declined this unless DLI changed the name of the bear to “hugalots” instead of “Lots of Hugs” in order to avoid confusion and association with the Lotso character.
DLI also licensed its brand to a company affiliated with Disney, which, DLI argue, suggests that Disney were aware of its intellectual property but used it in the movie anyway.
There hasn’t been a response from Disney yet.
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