Author, inventor, and wellness entrepreneur Alanna Zabel has not only pled copyright infringement in her lawsuit against Lauren Sanchez Bezos, she lays out patterns of blatant copying by Sanchez, not only her children’s book Dharma Kitty Goes to Mars, but continued imitation—even after being formally accused of infringement.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, names Sanchez along with Simon & Schuster and The Collective Book Studio as defendants.
At issue is Sanchez’s book The Fly Who Flew to Space, which Zabel alleges mirrors her copyrighted characters, plot structure, page-by-page story arc, and themes from her AZ I AM® children’s book Dharma Kitty Goes to Mars, but now she is replicating the Zabel’s series, The AZ I AM Girlz—works that were developed and registered years earlier, and which Zabel shared with her former client and friend when they discussed partnering together.
According to the complaint, the alleged copying did not end with the initial publication.
Zabel asserts that even after receiving cease-and-desist letters—and after the lawsuit was filed—Sanchez continued promoting and expanding branding elements strikingly similar to Zabel’s established intellectual property, including:
A nearly identical “accidental blast-off to space” storyline
Mirrored classroom and rocket-launch sequences
Environmental advocacy themes
Closing affirmations echoing Zabel’s signature “I AM” empowerment framework
Visual parallels in space-themed branding and apparel
“The issue is not only about a single act of copying,” Zabel stated. “It’s about continuing the behavior after being confronted—doubling down instead of taking responsibility. That reflects a troubling level of entitlement and a willingness to harm and smear a hard-working creative out of personal vengeance.”
Zabel served as Sanchez’s private yoga instructor between 2006 and 2009, providing in-home sessions in Beverly Hills and Malibu. During that time, they held multiple documented meetings discussing collaborations around Zabel’s children’s books, dolls, and wellness brand.
According to sworn declarations—including testimony from Sanchez’s former manager and brother—Sanchez had direct access to Zabel’s creative materials and business plans.
They held multiple private meetings to discuss potential collaborations between Sanchez and Zabel’s company, AZ I AM®, including children’s books, wellness content, a lingerie line, active-wear, and toy product lines.
Those meetings, Zabel asserts, were attended and corroborated by Sanchez’s then-manager and brother, Michael Sanchez, who confirms in a sworn declaration that he personally participated in creative meetings between the two women. His testimony states that he has direct knowledge of, and will testify that:
“Lauren expressed enthusiasm to partner with Alanna on her yoga-themed brand and children’s stories” and later “repurposed Alanna’s original concepts into her own book The Fly Who Flew to Space.”
After a personal falling out where Zabel quit working for Sanchez, they reconnected in 2019, when Sanchez visited Zabel’s Los Angeles yoga studio, AZ I AM, in Brentwood, CA.
Zabel reached out in 2022, excited about and sharing details about her upcoming release of Dharma Kitty Goes to Mars, including its space exploration themes, championing girl-power, and STEM related endeavors. Zabel also shared details about another one of her characters: Niyama, who is from Brazil and is an environmentalist, sharing the wonders of the Amazon rainforest with readers.
Six months later, however, instead of responding to Zabel, Sanchez announced in a Vogue article that she planned to write a children’s book about, in her exact words, “an insectile astronaut who becomes an environmentalist.”
Zabel created the AZ I AM Girlz® series while she was creating The World’s First Yoga Doll®, a movable fashion doll designed to teach mindfulness to children. Sanchez, Zabel recalls, was “impressed and enthusiastic” about her yoga teacher’s creative endeavors—so much so that she expressed interest in partnering with her.
Zabel claims Sanchez’ imitations extend beyond publishing. She points to the 2025 Blue Origin suborbital flight, in which Sanchez led an all-female crew, as a mirror of the AZ I AM Girlz® series—which are unique stories about a multicultural group of girls who travel the world together, supporting each other’s environmental causes.
Zabel’s series goes to space in Dharma Kitty Goes to Mars, explores the ocean in Hanging Zen, champions the Amazon rain forest in Mono Risa’s Coconuts, and more.
Is it merely coincidence that Lauren chose to expand her book into a series—and that the next installment ventures into the ocean? Zabel thinks not.
From a legal standpoint, expanding a book into a series and choosing the ocean as the next setting are not, by themselves, evidence of infringement, as is the story similarities in the books at the heart of their lawsuit. However, when viewed through the lens of public perception—and in light of Sanchez’s documented access to Zabel’s work—the continued similarities may reasonably appear suspicious.
Court documents also note that Sanchez’s flight crew wore custom-designed space suits unlike prior Blue Origin missions. Early press reports credited Sanchez as the designer, and Zabel says the suits looked “strikingly similar” to those worn by her Dharma Kitty character. Within 24 hours of Zabel contacting Variety to raise the issue to the writer, the article was amended to credit Monse as the designer, however with Sanchez Bezos’ influence.
Zabel states that, “while many individuals throughout my career have drawn inspiration from my work, few possess the financial capacity to actually transform those creative concepts into large-scale reality. Ms. Bezos however does, which makes the parallels between her endeavors and my creations particularly significant and concerning.”
In his sworn declaration, former manager Michael Sanchez corroborates these claims. He confirms that he personally attended the November 2009 meeting at Extra TV, where the two women discussed potential joint ventures centered on Zabel’s yoga-themed concepts and children’s books. He further states that Lauren arranged a trunk show at Extra TV featuring Zabel’s collections because she was enthusiastic about gauging her co-workers’ reactions as she explored a formal partnership with Zabel.
He further states that “Lauren stole the idea for The Fly Who Flew to Space from Alanna” and that after their relationship collapsed over “a petty incident at Lauren’s 40th birthday party.” Michael also states that when Lauren began dating Jeff Bezos she became “obsessed with copying MacKenzie Bezos’s success as an author and philanthropist.”
In what Zabel’s legal team describes as an intimidation tactic, Sanchez’s attorneys recently served a motion for sanctions against Zabel and her counsel—alleging improper filings, harassment, misconduct, and asserting that Zabel would never have been successful in her own right.
However, according to court records, the motion was never filed.
Zabel’s attorneys state that once Sanchez’s legal team reviewed just some of the documented evidence—including written communications, sworn testimony, detailed page-by-page comparisons, and proof that Zabel’s books and products were sold at Target through 2019—they withdrew the proposed motion and reversed their position.
Zabel believes that they were simply not given the accurate history and information from Sanchez to begin with.
Zabel also emphasizes that she has never needed—nor does she now need—a partnership with Lauren Sanchez to succeed. If anything, she contends, the record suggests the dynamic may very well be the other way around.
“Instead of addressing the substance of the claims,” Zabel said, “they attempted to intimidate, threatening my lawyer to drop my case, and threatening me with sanctions and further legal action for asserting my rights. However, when confronted with factual and undisputed evidence, they retreated.”
Zabel further alleges that Sanchez submitted a sworn declaration containing five statements that are objectively contradicted by documentary evidence, raising serious concerns about perjury.
Observers have noted the asymmetry between the parties: a self-funded independent author versus one of the most well-connected figures in publishing and media.
Sanchez’s book was distributed by Simon & Schuster, promoted across national television, and amplified by celebrity endorsements.
Zabel alleges that this platform has allowed Sanchez to proceed “without concern for consequence,” shielded by wealth, influence, and proximity to billionaire infrastructure.
“This case raises a broader cultural question,” said a spokesperson close to the matter. “When someone believes they are insulated by money and power, do they feel so untouchable that they disregard both the law and the rights of hardworking creatives?”
Zabel herself refrains from political comparisons but emphasizes the principle at stake:
“Accountability should not depend on net worth. If anything, those in positions of power should be held to a higher standard—and should lead by example.”
The federal complaint includes a detailed comparative chart demonstrating that the primary action on nearly every page of The Fly Who Flew to Space corresponds directly to plot points in Dharma Kitty Goes to Mars, often in the same sequence:
Classroom introduction of curious protagonist
Accidental launch sequence
Window-gazing capsule scene
Expressions of fear (“Help!”)
Environmental mission realization
Hero’s return and medal ceremony
Empowerment affirmation closing
“The structure, pacing, and emotional arc are not generic space tropes,” the complaint states. “They are protected original expressions.”
The lawsuit asserts:
Copyright Infringement (17 U.S.C. § 501)
Breach of Contract (Non-Disclosure Agreement)
Unjust Enrichment
Zabel is the founder of AZ I AM®, creator of The World’s First Yoga Doll®, and author of nineteen books integrating mindfulness and social–emotional learning for children.
“This isn’t about revenge,” Zabel said. “It’s about creative integrity. If someone makes a mistake, they can own it. What’s harder to understand is continuing the behavior after being formally accused.”
As the case proceeds, the court—not public opinion—will determine whether the similarities constitute unlawful copying.
Case Information (Federal Case No.: 2:25-cv-05558-MEMF-E)
Alanna Zabel and AZ I AM, Inc. v. Lauren Sanchez, The Collective Book Studio LLC, and Simon & Schuster LLC
Filed: June 2025
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