The Region - News from Jan. 8, 1986

Toys ‘R’ Us, the nation’s largest retailer of toys, was sued for copyright and trademark infringement in Los Angeles federal court over a 1944 cartoon featuring Woody Woodpecker. Universal City Studios Inc. and Walter Lantz Productions--owners of the rights to the character and its cartoons--charged that the Rochelle Park, N.J.-based chain did not have their permission to market a video cassette of a cartoon, “Ski For Two.” For the past three years, Toys ‘R’ Us sold video cassettes of the cartoon under another title, “Woody Plays Santa Claus,” the lawsuit said. By illegally selling the cassettes, the chain also infringed on the trademark of the cartoon character, the suit said. Cartoonist Walter Lantz created the zany red-haired Woody in 1940 and his wife, Grace, provided the character’s voice and distinctive cackle. Officials for Toys ‘R’ Us could not be reached for comment.