It’s John Morgan versus The Mouse?
Morgan & Morgan filed a federal lawsuit against Disney on Wednesday related to the law firm’s commercial parodying the famous Steamboat Willie 1928 cartoon from Mickey Mouse’s early days.
The commercial, which says it wasn’t endorsed or authorized by Disney, shows Mickey Mouse crashing his steamboat into Minnie Mouse’s car. Minnie pulls out her cell and calls an attorney.
The law firm reached out to The Walt Disney Co. in advance and shared the commercial, alerting the entertainment giant that Morgan & Morgan planned to air the ad nationwide.
“The copyright on ‘Steamboat Willie’ expired on Jan. 1, 2024, and the property has, since that date, entered the public domain. We believe that the Advertisement does not violate any of the copyright ri