A very interesting legal battle is now in place as Disney is taking on the popular DJ known as Deadmau5, and it’s all over Mickey Mouse. Well, it’s over the likeness of Mickey, that is.
Deadmau5 is known for his exciting and electronic music productions and also for wearing a mouse-eared helmet during his gigs all around the world.
Disney states that Deadmau5’s “mau5head” logo – which is to resemble the helmet he wears – is far too similar to Mickey Mouse and the trademarked tric-circle Mickey head logo.
Dinar LaPolt, Deadmau5’s attorney, has stated that the DJ’s logo is a registered trademark in 30 countries around the world. She stated that Disney is opposing a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office filing made last June.
Deadmau5 has taken to Twitter to express his dissatisfaction with Disney over the situation and has let his almost three million followers know things such as this:
“Disney thinks you might confuse an established electronic musician / performer with a cartoon mouse. That’s how stupid they think you are.”
The DJ has continued from there and keeps on tweeting updates regarding the trademark battle with Disney.
Disney filed an objection against Deadmau5 (Real name: Joel Zimmerman) with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office which is 171 pages long. The DJ doesn’t really seem to care about how long the document is from Disney and decided to fire back in a different way.
Deadmau5 tweeted a cease-and-desist noticed to Disney to stop using his track “Ghosts ‘n’ Stuff” with a license.
oh, @disney just in case you dont check your email, ill just leave this here. pic.twitter.com/I9ZSHsKlWV
oh, @disney just in case you dont check your email, ill just leave this here. pic.twitter.com/I9ZSHsKlWV
— deadmau5 (@deadmau5) September 4, 2014
He’s a great musician but he’s firmly out if his depth and needs to chill some.
Suprised that the re-micks aren’t properly licensed.