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Morgan and Morgan Sues Disney to Use "Steamboat Willy" in Their Commercials
- leakycap 1y agoSeems like a PR stunt to me after reading this and clicking the link to view the ad: https://docsend.com/view/q9x3bdin5vy9cst8 https://docsend.com/view/q9x3bdin5vy9cst8 Even with the voiceover, it sure "feels" to me as a consumer like Minnie is endorsing calling #LAW ... which goes beyond fair use, in my estimation.
- mwkaufma 1y agoFair use? Steamboat Willie is public domain.
- leakycap 1y agoBut Minnie is not, and the way the ad is used (see link to video) goes beyond simply using the ad. If it was clearly legal and clear-cut, why would a law firm be suing for clarification?
- mwkaufma 1y agoA version of Minnie is in Steamboat Willy...?
- leakycap 1y agoCorrect. I don't believe she had a cellphone in Steamboat Willy where she called the law firm being advertised here, hence the legal question. Can I use "Steamboat Willy" to have Mickey/Minnie from that era act as my spokesperson? I doubt it. If these lawyers felt they had obvious legal rights here, do you think they'd be asking for clarification?
- mwkaufma 1y agoIt's public domain.
- leakycap 1y agoYou seem to be the only person in this conversation that doesn't see the question - the lawyers suing certainly see the legal question, which you keep ignoring. Perhaps it is worth asking yourself why something seems to clear to you but is going before a judge as part of a legal question. Perhaps you have a partial understanding of the law? Perhaps you didn't click the link to view the video in question? I'm not sure if your 3 word response is intended to show your interest in the conversation or your current level of knowledge on the subject -- either way, a little introspection on why smart people with law degrees see a question but you don't might be worthwhile before continuing.
- cool_dude85 1y agoI think Morgan and Morgan's concern is likely to be Disney's history of litigiousness. Why wait til after the ad airs to get a judgment?
- leakycap 1y agoWe don't have to conjecture about that, the linked article clearly states "The firm said it had filed the lawsuit based on Disney's 'history of aggressive enforcement of intellectual property rights,' including a trademark lawsuit the media giant filed against another company on July 16 over jewelry depicting 'Steamboat Willie' characters"