Slovak Sock Company Faces Lawsuit Over Dancing Hamster Campaign

Slovak clothing company Dedoles faces legal action from creative agency Somebody&Somebody over the unauthorized use of the dancing hamster concept that made the brand famous. The advertising agency claims it created the original dancing hamster campaign but that Dedoles' license to use the concept has expired. The two companies have been unable to reach agreement on a new licensing deal, with disputes centering on the increased price for renewing the license. Dedoles became widely known in Slovakia through its marketing campaign featuring dancing hamsters promoting socks and underwear, but the same creative concept that built the brand's recognition now threatens to land the company in court over intellectual property rights.