The company has filed a claim in the Patents Court against TJ Morris, the parent company of Home Bargains, according to documents seen by City AM.

Jellycat rose to prominence in recent years after its whimsical plush toys gained a large following among Gen-Z shoppers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Its range includes traditional animals such as bunnies and cats alongside more unusual designs, including cuddly teapots and avocados.

The company has embraced its growing popularity online, opening a series of pop-ups in recent months, including a mock fish and chip shop in Selfridges selling smiling pie, battered sausage and Scotch egg toys.

Meanwhile, Instagram Reels and TikTok posts featuring alleged Jellycat “dupes” available at Home Bargains have attracted millions of views.

The products featured in the videos include doughnut, pancake and matcha latte plushies which social media creators claim are sold by the discount retailer.

The action against TJ Morris is the latest in a series of legal claims brought by Jellycat against retailers it alleges are attempting to pass off its copyrighted designs as their own.

The toymaker has filed claims this year against Morrisons, Next and Hamleys. Its first copyright action was brought against discount supermarket Aldi in June 2024.

A Jellycat spokesperson said: “We put skill and love into creating every Jellycat character, so we’re obviously very protective of our designs and our fans. We are not commenting further at this time.”

Jellycat filed another claim last week against e-commerce retailer Online Home Shop.

The company was founded in 1999 by Thomas Gatacre and now has 2.8m followers on TikTok, while its hashtag has generated more than 700,000 posts.

Jellycat recorded £334m in revenue and a £139m pre-tax profit in the year to December 2024, according to its latest available accounts.

Arnaud Meyselle, then the company’s chief executive, said: “We are delighted that fans around the world are reacting so positively to the creativity and quality of every Jellycat.

“At our core, we exist to spark joy – a joy that is universal across ages, cultures and generations – and this remains as true today as it was when Jellycat was founded 25 years ago.

“We are humbled by the growth it has created, and the positive effect this has on our business and the communities that we serve.”

TJ Morris declined to comment. Online Home Shop did not respond to multiple requests for comment.