Nabi kids tablet maker sues Toys R Us over Tabeo tablet

Toys R Us used to sell an Android tablet aimed at kids called the Nabi. But recently the toy store launched its own tablet called the Tabeo.

The Tabeo is basically a rebranded Archos Arnova ChildPad with a few tweaks — but that hasn’t stopped the makers of the Nabi from suing Toys R Us, claiming the retailer stole trade secrets to use when launching its own tablet.

Left: Tabeo / Right: Nabi

Toys R Us is taking pre-orders for the Tabeo for $150. It’s a tablet with a 7 inch capacitive touchscreen display, Android 4.0 software, 4GB of storage, a micro SD card slot, and mini HDMI output.

Unlike the standard ChildPad, the Tabeo comes with a removable bumper case which helps make the tablet a little easier to hold, and which could protect it from drops and scratches.

Among other things, Fuhu (the maker of the Nabi tablet) claims that Toys R Us copied its bumper case design. But Fuhu also says Toys R Us breached its contract and generally failed to live up to its end of the bargain when the company signed on to be the exclusive seller of the Nabi tablet last year.

Basically, Fuhu is claiming that Toys R Us partnered with the company to sell a few tablets, and then threw Fuhu to the curb and used information it learned from the partnership to launch its own device.

Toys R Us isn’t talking to the press about the deal, but I suspect they’ll have plenty to say in court.

On the one hand, the lawsuit seems a bit silly, because Toys R Us didn’t clone the Nabi… it partnerd with Archos to customize an existing child-friendly tablet. On the other hand, that bumper case does look awfully familiar.

Nabi tablets are now available from a number of retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and Gamestop.