Peacock Books & Wildlife Art features four of Lisa Loucks-Christenson's Syndicated Comics, Peacock Books & Wildlife Art is the Home of Don't Eat Bees! An original story and illustrations by LIsa Loucks-Christenson.
Published: May 21, 2025, 3:33 a.m. CDT
By Lisa Loucks-Christenson
Rochester Sun Times News
Rochester Author Developing Major Copyright and Trademark Suit Against Bertelsmann, Penguin Random House, Doubleday, Dev Petty, and Mike Boldt; Infringement Alleged Across Books, Films, Illustrations, and Comics
ROCHESTER, Minn. — Lisa Loucks-Christenson, an award-winning Rochester author and illustrator, is preparing to bring comprehensive legal action against Bertelsmann (Germany), Penguin Random House, Doubleday, author Dev Petty, and illustrator Mike Boldt. The forthcoming suit will allege willful copyright and trademark infringement involving Loucks-Christenson’s Don’t Eat Bees! franchise—including her books, films, original text, illustrations, and published comics.
Loucks-Christenson has sent numerous cease-and-desist letters and published original comics across at least five of her syndicated series, each clearly asserting that Don’t Eat Bees! is her original work. The franchise is published in the United States as a product of her registered trademark Bow Wow Detectives® and is licensed in Australia under her registered trademark Story Antics®, both of which Loucks-Christenson owns and uses to protect her intellectual property in their respective markets. Despite these efforts, she alleges, the publishers and creative team have continued to market and sell a book that closely imitates her title, artwork, and branding.
The dispute centers on Loucks-Christenson’s Don’t Eat Bees! franchise, which she has promoted and sold internationally since 2019. In addition to her books and art, Loucks-Christenson has exclusively sold original and limited-edition art pieces, greeting cards, and published comics—including the Don't Eat Bees! Adventure Comic™—through her official store, Peacock Books & Wildlife Art, and her authorized retail network. Her comics, art cards, and prints, featuring her award-winning illustrations, are only available through authorized outlets and have been exhibited in galleries and permanent collections.
The legal action in development will seek statutory damages for willful infringement on 22 original pencil illustrations used to create 21 original pastel illustrations, plus one additional pencil sketch included in the first book of the Don’t Eat Bees!™ franchise. Loucks-Christenson will also pursue a separate claim for the complete pastel and text work as a whole, totaling 24 claims. Under U.S. law, statutory damages for willful infringement can reach up to $150,000 per work.
Loucks-Christenson said she will also pursue claims in Australia under trademark and copyright law for the personalized, handcrafted editions of Don’t Eat Bees! sold there, which are created individually for each customer and use Australian English. She holds the registered Australian trademark for Story Antics® and will seek an injunction and destruction of infringing copies, as well as statutory damages for both the book work and the 23 original pencil illustrations.
The Don’t Eat Bees! franchise extends beyond books and comics. Two films are currently in development: one is an animation based on the first book, with plans for future adaptations, and another is a larger project combining Loucks-Christenson’s wildlife photography and animation. She also wrote and performed the “Don’t Eat Bees Song” and is a registered ASCAP member and publisher.
Loucks-Christenson’s Don’t Eat Bees! has been internationally recognized, winning two 2020 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards, and has been promoted by Story Monsters and widely featured online, in media, and in stores. She has a history of reviewing and promoting Penguin’s children’s, middle grade, and young adult books for free to her 100,000-plus social media followers. “It is not credible for the publisher or creators to claim they were unaware of my work,” she said.
Following the discovery of widespread piracy—including 29 of her titles found on unauthorized sites—Loucks-Christenson has limited her book, art, and comic distribution to her own stores and authorized outlets. She continues to issue takedown notices and urges readers to purchase only from official sources.
Representatives for Bertelsmann, Penguin Random House, Doubleday, Dev Petty, and Mike Boldt did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Loucks-Christenson remains committed to defending her creative legacy and the integrity of her Don’t Eat Bees! brand in both the U.S. and Australia.
Contact:
Lisa Loucks-Christenson
Peacock Books & Wildlife Art, Rochester, Minn.
Copyright 2023 Lisa Loucks-Christenson. All Rights Reserved. Politically Pawsed Comic by LIsa Loucks-Christenson features her double award-winning original book "Don't Eat Bees".
Copyright 2021 Lisa Loucks-Christenson. All Rights Reserved. Toads of Telemark Syndicated Comic defending Loucks-Christenson's "Don't Eat Bees!" book and franchise.