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Morgan & Morgan Files Lawsuit Over Steamboat Willie Ad
Florida’s largest law firm, Morgan & Morgan, is making waves in the courtroom, and this time it’s all about Mickey Mouse. The firm has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, asking a judge to rule that their new commercial featuring Steamboat Willie imagery is legally protected.
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The planned ad depicts a vintage black-and-white Mickey at the wheel of his famous steamboat when he collides with a car driven by Minnie. After the fender-bender, Minnie dials #LAW (That’s All) to call Morgan & Morgan. The ad closes with a tongue-in-cheek moment of Mickey handing over a bag of cash. Disclaimers make it clear that the spot isn’t affiliated with Disney.
Before airing, the firm reached out to Disney for reassurance the company wouldn’t take legal action. Disney did not provide that assurance. Now Morgan & Morgan is seeking a declaratory judgment that the ad doesn’t infringe on Disney’s trademarks or intellectual property.
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While Steamboat Willie entered the public domain on January 1, 2024, Disney has continued to protect modern versions of Mickey Mouse. A Disney spokesperson reiterated at the time that while the earliest iteration of Mickey is public domain, “more modern versions of Mickey will remain unaffected by the expiration of the Steamboat Willie copyright.”
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