The design of a baby carrier that is not only suitable for the baby but comfortable for the mother as well is at the centre of a dispute between its designer, Shannon McLaughlin, and Woolworths after she discovered the exact design being sold at the retail giant's online shop in December 2018. McLaughlin, who is accusing the retailer of stealing her design and concept, described Woolworths’ conduct as ‘completely unethical’, says a TimesLIVE report.

Woolworths said it takes the issue ‘incredibly seriously’ but will only be in a position to issue a response after company representatives have met with the Ubuntu Baby founder.

In the meantime, it is recalling the product from its online shop. McLaughlin said the carrier, which is manufactured by her company Ubuntu Baba baby carriers in Cape Town, was priced between R1 300 and R1 590.

Woolworths sold them for R450.

McLaughlin said she was advised by an intellectual property attorney against suing the retailer due to the high costs involved.

‘I would need to do a marketing survey which would cost around R150 000 and to head to the high court I would need R250 000 before the case is even heard,’ she said.

‘I am not trying to boycott Woolworths, my aim is to challenge them to step up and do business better,’ she added. She wants Woolworths to remove the baby carriers from sale, provide an explanation of how it happened, and an assurance to the public that it will never happen again.

Full TimesLIVE report