Judge denies bid to halt ‘Jungle’

A federal judge refused to block today’s U.S. release of a Walt Disney Co. comedy that Caterpillar Inc. contends will hurt its image and sales of children’s products.

Chief U.S. District Judge Joe B. McDade on Monday denied Caterpillar’s request for a temporary restraining order to halt sales of Disney’s “George of the Jungle 2,” a direct-to-DVD product.

The Peoria, Ill., manufacturer filed a trademark infringement lawsuit, alleging that the company’s reputation will be tarnished because its yellow earth-moving equipment is linked to the film’s villains. Caterpillar also maintained that the movie could leave a negative impression on its young target audience, harming sales of a children’s product line. The lawsuit also seeks to recall 2.2 million copies of the movie already delivered to retail outlets to edit out Caterpillar’s name and logo.

Caterpillar faces an uphill battle for a recall based on evidence presented so far, McDade wrote in the ruling.