Disney tries to block musician Dead Mau5's logo over Mickey Mouse similarity
Disney has launched a legal battle with musician DeadMau5 in a bid to prevent the artist's iconic Mau5 head from earning a US trademark over its resemblance to the Mickey Mouse logo.
Is the Dead Mau5 head similar enough to Mickey Mouse?
The media giant on Tuesday served legal documents on the Canadian artist stating that it will attempt to ban his use of the tri-circle Mau5 logo, which also features the head and two ears of a mouse.
The 33 year old Joel Zimmerman, who goes by the name of Dead Mau5 on-stage, filed for the US trademark in June last year.
He told Twitter users he would fight Disney in the courts if need be.
landed home to some interesting news: looks like Disney officially just filed in opposition of my trademark... lawyer up mickey.
— deadmau5 (@deadmau5) September 3, 2014
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, 2014The musician added.
im sorry frozen fucking tanked huge.... i really am. but cmon. — deadmau5 (@deadmau5) September 3, 2014According to TMZ, legal documents filed by Disney claim that if Dead Mau5 was to be granted a US trademark, the media giant's international business would be damaged.
Dead Mau5, who played the iTunes Festival in London last week, has been using his logo, which is trademarked in 30 countries, for over a decade.
Meanwhile chocolate firm Hersheys, earlier this week released a new logo no-one will try and claim - that social media users claim looks like a steaming turd.