Overview
- Morgan & Morgan filed a federal lawsuit after Disney objected to the firm’s planned ad featuring the 1928 Steamboat Willie version of Mickey Mouse.
- Steamboat Willie has entered the public domain, but Disney contends its trademarks may still limit certain commercial uses of the early character design.
- The law firm seeks a court declaration that its spot does not infringe Disney’s intellectual property, turning the campaign into a potential test case.
- Disney has recently enforced related claims, including a July suit against a jewelry company that used the Steamboat Willie design on products.
- The outcome could shape how creators and businesses use public‑domain imagery when a rights holder asserts brand protection.