May 10, 2016 Intellectual Property, Copyright, and Trademark

What a Gas: Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Over Stuffed Hippopotamus Reaches Resolution

On Friday, May 6, 2016, a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by California toymaker Folkmanis Inc. over the use of a noisemaking stuffed animal known as “Bert the Farting Hippo” was settled against CBS Broadcasting Inc., one of the defendants in the case. This comes almost two years after the complaint was originally filed in the Northern District of California.

CBS’s use of Bert the Farting Hippo arises out of CBS’s popular crime-drama television series “NCIS,” which follows the lives and careers of investigators for the …

August 30, 2014 Copyright / Intellectual Property, Copyright, and Trademark / TV

CBS Sued Over Farting Hippopotamus

A recurring stuffed animal on the hit CBS show, NCIS, is causing the broadcasting corporation legal woes this week. On August 25, CBS Broadcasting was sued by world renowned puppet maker, Folkmanis Inc., for infringing its copyrights by producing and selling “Bert the Farting Hippo” products.

Abby Sciuto, the goth forensic scientist on NCIS, introduced her furry, farting stuffed animal, Bert back in 2003. Since his first appearance, Bert the Farting Hippo has made over a dozen appearances on the television show, garnering …