According to AP News, a law firm in Orlando, Florida, has filed a lawsuit against Disney for its use of “Steamboat Willie.”
Disney’s U.S. copyright expired last year for Steamboat Willie. The law firm, Morgan & Morgan, is suing Disney to get a ruling that would allow Steamboat Willie to be used in advertisements.
Morgan & Morgan reached out to Disney to ensure that the law firm would not be sued if they used Steamboat Willie, despite losing their copyright. Disney responded by saying it did not offer legal advice to third parties.
The law firm has decided to sue Disney so that it can create a rule that would allow it and others to use Steamboat Willie.
Morgan & Morgan wants to air an advertisement for their law firm that starts and ends by saying that Disney did not approve or authorize the advertisement. “The ad shows Mickey captaining a boat on land that crashes into a car driven by Minnie, who pulls out her phone and contacts the law firm.”
Copyright has always been a difficult subject with the Walt Disney Company. They’re also currently filing against a company in China for using their copyrighted images in artificial intelligence (AI) systems.
We’re going to be keeping an eye on this lawsuit to see how it progresses. Make sure you keep following AllEars for more.
DISNEY FILES CRITICAL NEW LAWSUIT ALONGSIDE UNIVERSAL AND WARNER BROS.
What are your thoughts on the use of Steamboat Willie? Tell us in the comments.
Morgan and Morgan is a glorified ambulance chasing law firm . Billboard lawyers come a dime a dozen. Nothing but hacks .
Since steamboat Willie is no longer in copyright, this lawsuit is completely unnecessary. As a law firm (in fact America’s largest), they should know this. They can make the commercial without fear of retaliation from Disney.