Disney May Appeal Decision on Pooh
Walt Disney Co. received permission from a federal judge to appeal a decision that said the granddaughter of Winnie the Pooh author A.A. Milne can’t reclaim U.S. rights to the character.
In May, U.S. District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper in Los Angeles ruled that Clare Milne couldn’t use a change in U.S. copyright law to reclaim rights to Winnie the Pooh next year. Cooper’s order on Tuesday lets Disney and Milne ask the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to accept an appeal without having to wait for a final trial court decision in the case.
The suit is related to a dispute between Disney and Stephen Slesinger Inc., which owns the licensing rights to the Pooh books. Slesinger has a suit pending against Disney, claiming the media company owes millions in royalties.
Milne, in a separate suit, sought to reclaim the rights and said Disney had made a deal with her to continue making Pooh products if she won.
From Bloomberg News
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