Luxo lamps: Pixar sued over use of lamps, brand

[ericpabear]

Pixar Animation Studios' hopping desk-lamp character Luxo Jr., which debuted in 1986 and became part of the filmmaker's corporate identity, triggered a trademark lawsuit by the Norwegian lampmaker Luxo AS.
Pixar and owner Walt Disney Co. are infringing Luxo's brand by selling functioning, special-edition lamps bearing the Luxo Jr. name and using a six-foot animatronic version in the Walt Disney World theme park, Luxo said in a complaint in federal court in New York.
Sales of the Pixar lamps, packaged with a Disney DVD, will confuse consumers and "cause devastating damage to Luxo and dilute the goodwill which Luxo has built up" by selling high-quality lamps, Oslo-based Luxo said.
Pixar founder John Lasseter said his Luxo lamp inspired the character, though the name hasn't been used on Pixar goods until now, according to the suit. — Bloomberg News