'Snow White' Ad Has Disney Fuming

Movies, TV, music, and more. Here's the place to talk about anything Disney outside of the parks.

Moderator: Moderators

Post Reply
Jacca5660
Submarine Voyage Captain
Submarine Voyage Captain
Posts: 6842
Joined: Jun Sun 25, 2006 12:11 pm
Location: Chattanooga Tn
Contact:

'Snow White' Ad Has Disney Fuming

Post by Jacca5660 » Oct Fri 16, 2009 12:33 am

An Australian beer company Called Her (& Dwarves) Ugly Names. You've got to read this!!

http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/15/ho- ... rs-disney/
"Our dreams can come true - if we have the courage to pursue them" WED

"There's a fine prow on that steamer, let's climb aboard her!" Fireside

"You're off the map mateys..Here there be SeaMonsters!!"

The original "LICENSE MAYHEM MARAUDER!!ImageImage

Len90
Submarine Voyage Captain
Submarine Voyage Captain
Posts: 6740
Joined: Mar Sat 29, 2008 8:04 pm
Location: New Jersey
Contact:

Re: 'Snow White' Ad Has Disney Fuming

Post by Len90 » Oct Fri 16, 2009 1:01 am

Jacca5660 wrote:An Australian beer company Called Her (& Dwarves) Ugly Names. You've got to read this!!

http://www.slashfood.com/2009/10/15/ho- ... rs-disney/
Ummm wow. That is very creative of the beer company to come up with that given how Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was recently in the news for being released on Blu-Ray. I think it is in poor taste and it should be interesting to see what happens.
- Len90
"If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember that this whole thing was started with a dream and a mouse."
"Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy"

elizabethswann
Pirates of the Caribbean Buccaneer
Pirates of the Caribbean Buccaneer
Posts: 5834
Joined: Feb Mon 26, 2007 2:31 am
Contact:

Post by elizabethswann » Oct Fri 16, 2009 5:02 am

Wow. Even I'm just staring at it in shock.

agingerbugg
PeopleMover People Mover
PeopleMover People Mover
Posts: 1456
Joined: Jun Fri 20, 2008 9:43 am
Location: The Vacation Kingdom

Post by agingerbugg » Oct Fri 16, 2009 7:50 am

Although the ad is inappropriate and it is clearly a representation of Disney's Snow White, I think their response is a bit of an overreaction. It is reminiscent of Disney threatening to sue daycare centers in Florida for characters in their murals. Jamieson Brewery is a small brewpub in Victoria, Australia. It appears that the ads ran in Sydney newspapers, but the beer is sold in only 62 stores with only one being outside Victoria and none in Sydney. It is a bit like using a shotgun to kill a fly.
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

-Benjamin Franklin

boilerbabe
Pack Mules Wrangler
Pack Mules Wrangler
Posts: 5143
Joined: Sep Sun 02, 2007 3:27 pm
Location: Valparaiso IN

Post by boilerbabe » Oct Fri 16, 2009 10:22 am

I don't know what to say really, except yikes. I think that's in really poor taste. I could see why this wold anger Disney. Isn't Snow White a trademark of Disney? How can they do that?
Image
Image

Jacca5660
Submarine Voyage Captain
Submarine Voyage Captain
Posts: 6842
Joined: Jun Sun 25, 2006 12:11 pm
Location: Chattanooga Tn
Contact:

Post by Jacca5660 » Oct Fri 16, 2009 11:38 am

Is Snow White a trade marked charterer? I always thought because of the origins of the story it was in the public domain.
"Our dreams can come true - if we have the courage to pursue them" WED

"There's a fine prow on that steamer, let's climb aboard her!" Fireside

"You're off the map mateys..Here there be SeaMonsters!!"

The original "LICENSE MAYHEM MARAUDER!!ImageImage

mindflipper
Submarine Voyage Captain
Submarine Voyage Captain
Posts: 10954
Joined: Sep Sun 06, 2009 8:53 am
Location: 76 Totters Lane

Post by mindflipper » Oct Fri 16, 2009 12:04 pm

Is Snow White a trade marked charterer? I always thought because of the origins of the story it was in the public domain.
I think their response is a bit of an overreaction. It is reminiscent of Disney threatening to sue daycare centers in Florida for characters in their murals.

Yes, Snow White is a public domain character, but Disney's version of Snow White is trademarked. Remember the whole hooplah a few years back when the Academy Awards had Rob Lowe dancing with Snow White? The problem was in that case the costume and hair style was an exact match for Disney's, which is illegal to do so without the express permission of Disney. Look at the Shrek films for a good example: they had Snow White as one of their princess, but her attire and looks were completely different from Disney. Which means their version of Snow White is protected too. Look at the court cases that involved Winnie the Pooh if you want to see how messy it can get.

The problem in the advert is that Snow White still looks pretty generic. The bow in the hair can hardly qualify her to be a match for Disney. However, the problem comes with the Seven Dwarfs. In the original story, they were plain seven dwarves. Disney developed the separate looks, names, and personalities that matched their names. The bigger problem is having the seven dwarves match Disney's because there's the greater trademark infringement. The ad seems to be more clearly infringing on Disney's dwarves more than it infringes on Disney's Snow White.

And, as for the law, to not vigorously pursue trademark infringement in one case and not the other can be seen as tacit approval of that use. So, yes, Disney had to pursue those Florida daycares for violating trademarks by using those characters without permission. Trademark or copyrights legally don't give automatic protection per se - you must defend it at all times - they merely give the legal standing in court over the other party in determining who has the right and who is at fault.

disneydreamer58
PeopleMover People Mover
PeopleMover People Mover
Posts: 1454
Joined: Nov Wed 10, 2004 4:30 pm
Location: Boston

Post by disneydreamer58 » Oct Fri 16, 2009 12:59 pm

I was offended by the ad. I am sorry I am sick of using sexual enuendo's to sell/market stuff. I am not a prude but I think the ad was in poor taste an I applaud Disney for protecting their characters against raunchy stuff like this. That's just my opinion.
"A Very Merry Un-Birthday To You!"

Jacca5660
Submarine Voyage Captain
Submarine Voyage Captain
Posts: 6842
Joined: Jun Sun 25, 2006 12:11 pm
Location: Chattanooga Tn
Contact:

Post by Jacca5660 » Oct Fri 16, 2009 1:35 pm

I thought it was in bad taste, but it was FUNNY!!!
"Our dreams can come true - if we have the courage to pursue them" WED

"There's a fine prow on that steamer, let's climb aboard her!" Fireside

"You're off the map mateys..Here there be SeaMonsters!!"

The original "LICENSE MAYHEM MARAUDER!!ImageImage

Atomic
Casey Junior Circus Train Conductor
Casey Junior Circus Train Conductor
Posts: 57
Joined: Mar Sat 28, 2009 5:19 am
Location: Starspeeder to Endor

Post by Atomic » Oct Sun 18, 2009 5:31 am

Both the ad and the idea of Raspberry Ale are in poor taste. Raspberry Ale - really? Yuck...

Jacca5660
Submarine Voyage Captain
Submarine Voyage Captain
Posts: 6842
Joined: Jun Sun 25, 2006 12:11 pm
Location: Chattanooga Tn
Contact:

Post by Jacca5660 » Oct Sun 18, 2009 11:18 am

Atomic wrote:Both the ad and the idea of Raspberry Ale are in poor taste. Raspberry Ale - really? Yuck...
Raspberry Wheat Ale is great!! It's a German tradition and if you enjoy beer you really have to try it. It's tart with a great fruit flavor. it's really good on a hot day.
"Our dreams can come true - if we have the courage to pursue them" WED

"There's a fine prow on that steamer, let's climb aboard her!" Fireside

"You're off the map mateys..Here there be SeaMonsters!!"

The original "LICENSE MAYHEM MARAUDER!!ImageImage

cinderella75
Fantasyland Theater Projectionist
Fantasyland Theater Projectionist
Posts: 182
Joined: Feb Sun 22, 2009 9:54 am
Location: Maryland

Post by cinderella75 » Oct Mon 26, 2009 9:24 am

All I can say is UMMM....WOW :donald: :figment:
When you BELIEVE and have FAITH, WISHES and DREAMS do come TRUE :-)
Image

Post Reply