If you've been home sick watching the daytime marathon of Spongebob Squarepants any time recently (we're not ashamed), you have seen the ad for Pillow Pets, which always reminded us of that old Shimmer Floor Wax SNL bit. The toy's name is pretty self-explanatory, but if you need clarification check out the video below. Anyway, CJ Products want to make sure they have the only Pillow Pets on the market, so U.S. Marshals have seized thousands of counterfeit pillows from a Flushing Avenue warehouse used by Concord Toys International. Brooklyn Federal Judge Eric Vitaliano said, "This is particularly troubling given the potential that [Concord's] products may pose a potential public health risk."
CJ Products reportedly hired private detectives to ferret out the bogus toys and filed suit under seal in federal court to make sure Concord didn't know about the oncoming raid, where marshals seized 17,000 items. Vitaliano explained, "Since the pillow pet product is both a children's toy and a pillow, it is subject to numerous federal and state health and safety regulations." Not to underestimate the dangers of improperly made toys, but these things look pretty innocuous. Unless you can sue for being terrified every time you wake up and see Buzzy Bumble Bee smiling back at you. If you're worried, CJ Products' lawyer Jason Drangel says, "Look for the 'Pillow Pets/My Pillow Pets' embroidered label on the underside back leg of the plush toy."
