Ty, Inc. v. GMA Accessories, Inc.

132 F.3d 1167 (7th Cir. 1997)
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Ty's Squealer and GMA's Preston.

Squealer© Ty, Inc. Reprinted by permission. Photograph provided by Banner & Witcoff, Ltd., attorneys for GMA, Inc.

At the height of the Beanie Baby collecting craze, the stuffed animals were so valuable that they were accepted by banks as collateral for loans. Ty, Inc. stimulated the market by "retiring" popular models, ensuring limited quantities and high prices.The company began producing Beanies in 1993, releasing nine models that would eventually become known as the Original Nine. One of these was Squealer the Pig, which was produced in six different editions over five years. The other Beanie mentioned in the case, Daisy the Cow, was first produced a year later, in 1994.