Fans of Abby Sciuto (Pauley Perrette) from NCIS surely remember her beloved sidekick, Bert the Farting Hippo. With his distinctive studded leather collar and gaseous charm, Bert became an iconic part of Abby’s forensic lab, often making appearances both in her work environment and in her personal life. However, Bert hasn’t been seen in recent years due to some unexpected complications.
According to Perrette, Bert is currently stored in a prop vault at CBS Studios. The reason for his absence is twofold: his immense popularity among fans and a legal dispute that ensued. Fans were so enamored with Bert that they sought their own versions of the stuffed animal, which led to a complex legal situation.
The trouble began when Paramount Pictures decided to capitalize on Bert’s popularity by mass-producing their own version of the hippo. However, this move led to a trademark infringement lawsuit filed by Folkmanis Inc., the original creator of Bert. Folkmanis, which had designed and produced the Bert seen on the show—including the added collar and the sound effects—had previously struck a deal with CBS to manufacture and sell Bert toys, including keychains, through the CBS Store.
The lawsuit alleged that CBS had breached this agreement by collaborating with Delivery Agent Inc. and S.F. Global Sourcing to have unlicensed Bert toys produced by Shanghai Orlind Toy Co. in China. Folkmanis claimed that this move cut them out of the manufacturing process and violated their exclusive rights. The company sought $733,000 in damages and requested that the counterfeit Berts be destroyed.
The legal battle, which CBS likely regretted given the playful nature of the dispute, was settled two years later. Following the resolution, CBS released official Bert slippers that emitted a farting sound with each step. For those still eager to own a Bert of their own, an unofficial “farting” hippo stuffed toy can currently be found on Amazon.
Source: Looper
