Overview

• Morgan & Morgan filed in Florida federal court seeking a declaratory judgment that its 37‑second black‑and‑white ad using the 1928 Mickey design is lawful.
• The spot depicts Mickey crashing a boat into Minnie and includes a disclaimer stating it is not endorsed by or associated with Disney.
• The filing follows Disney’s July lawsuit against jewelry seller Satéur, which Disney alleges tried to pass off Steamboat Willie merchandise as official Disney goods.
• Disney argues that trademarks and copyrights in later Mickey iterations continue to restrict competitors from exploiting its brand and goodwill, citing its licensing business.
• Steamboat Willie entered the public domain in 2024, and projects such as the horror parody Screamboat have proceeded, highlighting the legal line courts are now being asked to clarify.