Morgan and Morgan takes Disney to court over 'Steamboat Willie' in ads

A legal battle over the use of “Steamboat Willie,” Disney’s pioneering animated short, is unfolding in federal court.

Morgan & Morgan, Florida’s largest law firm, has filed a lawsuit asking a judge to declare the law firm’s planned use of the iconic film in an ad is protected against trademark claims from Disney. Steamboat Willie entered the public domain on Jan. 1, 2024, when Disney’s copyright protection expired.

The proposed ad depicts Mickey Mouse in a boat collision with a car, after which the driver seeks legal representation from Morgan & Morgan. According to the filing, before moving forward with the advertisement, the law firm sought assurance from Disney that the commercial wouldn’t trigger legal action. The filing said Disney would not comply.

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The day after the firm contacted Disney, the entertainment company filed a lawsuit against a jewelry company over its use of “Steamboat Willie” designs, demonstrating Disney’s continued protection of its intellectual property rights despite the copyright expiration.

To address potential concerns, Morgan & Morgan’s commercial includes explicit visual and verbal disclaimers stating there is no connection to Disney. The firm maintains this should prevent any confusion about affiliation or endorsement.

The case, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, seeks a declaratory judgment confirming that Morgan & Morgan ad’s use of “Steamboat Willie” doesn’t infringe on Disney’s trademark rights or other intellectual property laws.

Morgan & Morgan said it was filing the lawsuit to get a decision because it otherwise feared being sued by Disney for trademark infringement if it used “Steamboat Willie.”

News 6 has contacted Disney for comment.

What is public domain?

Public domain status means creative works become part of our shared cultural heritage, allowing anyone to freely use, adapt, or share them without permission or fees – similar to how we can freely use Shakespeare’s plays or Beethoven’s compositions today.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

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