Orlando, Florida (AP) – Steamboat Willy is “for the people?”
The problem is that one of the largest personal injury law firms in the United States is asking federal court decisions in central Florida.
Law firms Morgan & Morgan are known for their ubiquitous slogan “For the People” in their ubiquitous TV commercials and sued Disney on Wednesday in an effort to get a ruling that would allow it to use “Steamboat Willie” in their ads. “Steamboat Willie” is a 1928 animated short film directed by Walt Disney, in which Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse made their first public appearances.
The law firm said the U.S. copyright expired last year for Steamboat Willie, the Lodestar of American movie animation at the time, and it had contacted Disney to ensure that entertainment companies would not sue them if they used images from animated movies as TV and online ads. According to the lawsuit, Disney's attorneys said they did not provide legal advice to third parties.
Morgan & Morgan said it is filing a lawsuit to make a decision because otherwise, if it uses Steamboat Willie, it is otherwise worried about trademark infringement by Disney.
Disney did not immediately respond to Wednesday night’s request for comment.
In a black and white animated ad that Morgan & Morgan wanted to air, the voiceover announcer started and ended the ad saying Disney did not approve or authorize the ad. Advertisement shows a captain on land crashing into a car driven by Minnie, who then took out his cell phone to contact the law firm.
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