The influencer behind the Sylvanian Drama TikTok account is in the process of being sued by the brand that has earned her advertisement opportunities from the likes of Hilton Hotels and Burberry.
Thea Von Engelbrechten, from Kildare, Ireland, has become a staple of TikTok culture thanks to her comedic skits about Sylvanian Families. If you’re not familiar, you’re seriously missing out. Sylvanian Drama is basically Hollyoaks on crack, with its various furry inhabitants playing out truly unhinged storylines such as kidnappings, drug abuse, and straight-up murder. It’s hardly the PG, family-friendly fun the brand is associated with, but Thea’s videos are beyond addictive.
@sylvaniandrama
Though Thea has been running the account since 2021, in April, she was sued in the US by Sylvanian Families’ parent brand, Epoch Company. It first launched Sylvanian Families in 1985 before launching here in the UK in 1987.
According to the Irish Independent, Thea is being sued for copyright infringement and “creating, publishing, and disseminating online advertising videos” without Epoch’s permission. The company also alleges that Thea’s Sylvanian Drama videos “cause irreparable injury” to Epoch’s “reputation” and business.
There’s been an update in the Sylvanian Drama lawsuit
@sylvaniandrama
Numerous reports claim that both parties are “actively engaged in settlement discussions” in hopes that the US court might extend the case’s deadline.
“The parties will be in a better position to address the legal and factual issues, including Ms Von Engelbrechten’s defences in the case after Ms Von Engelbrechten files an answer,” the filing said.
Specifically, they requested that a deadline for Thea’s response be moved to August 8. Though Epoch proposed an initial court date of between September 2 and 5, the court set the pretrial conference to August 14.
Thea is yet to publicly comment on the lawsuit, and she hasn’t posted on either her TikTok or Instagram since January.
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Featured image credit: Sylvanian Drama
