Deadmau5 vs. Disney: Who Owns the Ears?
Big ears are tougher to trademark than you may think. Musician Deadmau5 is known for his big mouse ears but when he tried to legally make that his logo, Walt Disney Co. stepped in and filed an objection. After all, ears are their thing!
Disney filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, claiming that Deadmau5's ears are "nearly identical in appearance, connotation and overall commercial impression to Disney's Mouse Ears Marks," and that "both parties' marks are comprised of a round head with prominent round mouse ears in silhouette," Variety reports.
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Deadmau5, whose real name is Joel Zimmerman, tweeted his reaction to Disney's objection, writing: "Disney thinks you might confuse an established electronic musician / performer with a cartoon mouse. That’s how stupid they think you are."
Disney thinks you might confuse an established electronic musician / performer with a cartoon mouse. That's how stupid they think you are.
— deadmau5 (@deadmau5) September 3, 2014It seems this is only a problem for the musician in America. He holds trademarks on the mouse ears in other countries, and has until Oct. 12 to respond to Disney's objection. Variety points out that Disney has been using the mouse ears as early as 1928.
Whose side are you on?
Disney versus Deadmau5 isn't the only feud in Hollywood. Check out these nasty, ongoing celebrity fights.