Walt Disney sues Hong Kong company for selling illegal Mickey Mouse jewellery, ‘trying to confuse consumers'
In a lawsuit filed in federal court in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Disney alleged that the marketing and branding of the rings, necklaces and earrings in Red Earth Group brand Satéur's 'Mickey 1928 Collection' violate its trademark rights and that the Hong Kong company is deliberately trying to fool customers into thinking the pieces are official Disney merchandise.
Satéur 'intends to present Mickey Mouse as its own brand identifier for its jewelry merchandise and seeks to trade on the recognizability of the Mickey Mouse trademarks and consumers' affinity for Disney and its iconic ambassador Mickey Mouse,' the suit alleged.
Disney's legal team has reportedly accused Red Earth Group of "trying to confuse consumers" by using Mickey Mouse imagery in a way that signals a collaboration or licensing arrangement with Disney.
It is noteworthy that the earliest version of Mickey Mouse entered the public domain last year after Disney's copyright expired, though the company still holds trademark rights to the character.
Lawyers for Disney argue in the suit that Red Earth's online marketing efforts 'extensively trade on the Mickey Mouse trademarks and the Disney brand' with language that includes describing the jewellery as great for 'Disney enthusiasts'.
The earliest depiction of Mickey Mouse, who first appeared publicly in the film short 'Steamboat Willie' in 1928, are now in the US public domain. The widely publicised moment was considered a landmark in iconography going public, the AP report said.
The lawsuit further alleged that Red Earth and Satéur are trying to use that status as a 'ruse' to suggest the Mickey Mouse jewellery is legal, by dubbing it the 'Mickey 1928 Collection'.
'Disney remains committed to guarding against unlawful trademark infringement and protecting consumers from confusion caused by unauthorized uses of Mickey Mouse and our other iconic characters,' Disney said in a statement Wednesday.
The US company is seeking an injunction against Red Earth selling the jewellery or trading on Disney's trademark in any other way.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Who was Skip Brittenham? Top Hollywood lawyer and Heather Thomas' husband passes away
Skip Brittenham, top Hollywood lawyer who represented Harrison Ford and Eddie Murphy, has passed away at the age of 83, his wife, actor and screenwriter, Heather Thomas, confirmed. Ziffren Brittenham LLP, the legal firm he co-founded, also confirmed his death in a statement saying that Brittenham died on Thursday. A cause of death has not been disclosed. Skip Brittenham with Heather Thomas. (X/ @rockingtomm) On Friday, Heather Thomas posted her first reaction to her husband's death, thanking everyone who wished her well on Brittenham's passing. The actor and screenwriter remembered the top lawyer as someone who made her feel like the "luckiest girl in the world." "We were an 'us' for 36 years, and not a single day went by where I didn't feel like the luckiest girl in the world," she wrote in the caption of an X post, along with a photo of her with Brittenham. 'I'll be back when I can function a bit better.' Earlier, Brittenham's law firm also released a statement on his death. 'Everyone in our industry knew of Skip's legal prowess,' it said. "But some may not have known of his quiet generosity, his ability to find humor and opportunity in the darkest moments, and his unwavering belief that media and the entertainment industry must serve people, not the other way around,' the statement added. Also read: Why was Resident Alien canceled? Here's what showmakers said Who Was Skip Brittenham? Full name Harry "Skip" Montague Brittenham II, the entertainment lawyer, born in 1941, co-founded the law firm Ziffren Brittenham LLP in 1978. It went on to become one of the most influential law firms in Hollywood. Among their notable clients were actors Harrison Ford, Eddie Murphy, Henry Winkler, Tim Allen, and many other big names. Some of Brittenham's key influences in the industry was brokering Pixar's initial deal with Disney, assisting with the split of DreamWorks into separate entities, and helping facilitate the acquisition of Miramax by Disney. He married actor and screenwriter Heather Thomas on October 10, 1992. They have three daughters.


Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Hulk Hogan's wife Sky Daily breaks silence on his death: ‘I wasn't ready'
Hulk Hogan's wife, Sky Daily, said her 'heart is in pieces,' a day after the tragic demise of the WWE Hall of Famer at the age of 71. Hulk Hogan died on July 24 after paramedics were dispatched to his Florida-based home, with the operator stating that the call was regarding a 'cardiac arrest,' TMZ reported. Sky, a yoga instructor by profession, tied the knot with the former WWE champion in 2023. Hulk Hogan with wife Sky Daily(Instagram/hulkhogan) Sky Daily pays tribute to Hulk Hogan On Friday, July 25, Sky Daily dropped an Instagram post to mourn the loss of her husband of two years, stating that she was not ready for this and her 'heart is in pieces.' She shared that the legendary wrestler was 'dealing with some health issues' in life, but she believed that the duo would be able to overcome them. Sky 'had so much faith' in Hulk Hogan's strength and thought that they 'still had more time' together. 'This loss is sudden and impossible to process. To the world, he was a legend... but to me, he was my Terry. The man I loved. My partner. My heart,' Sky wrote in her post, which also featured a photograph of them together. Also Read: Hulk Hogan net worth: A look at WWE star's fortune after tragic death at 71 She went on to say that her husband loved his fans too much and, despite the growing physical discomfort, he used to do everything he could for them. '...He did everything he could to show up, sign autographs, take photos, and connect with the people who supported him through it all. You meant everything to him,' the 46-year-old stated. Sky, who has three children from a previous relationship, further shared how important faith was to her husband, stating that he 'was a believer in Christ.' '...I take comfort knowing his soul is at peace and he's been welcomed home,' she added. Concluding her post, Sky urged fans to keep Hulk Hogan's family in prayers. Hulk Hogan's personal life Sky was Hulk Hogan's third wife. He was earlier married to Linda Claridge between 1983 and 2009. They shared two children - Brooke Hogan and Nick Hogan. After parting ways with Claridge, Hulk Hogan went on to marry Jennifer McDaniel in 2010. The two of them separated after over a decade. FAQs: 1. How old is Hulk Hogan's wife Sky Daily? She is 46 years old. 2. How long was Hulk Hogan married to Sky Daily? As per People magazine, Hulk Hogan and Sky Daily got married in an intimate ceremony on September 22, 2023. 3. What does Sky Daily do for a living? She is a yoga instructor.


Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
WWE planning to commemorate Hulk Hogan's legacy on SmackDown tonight
The sudden demise of WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has left fans and the entire universe mourning and paying heartfelt tributes to the wrestling icon. Veteran WWE wrestler Hulk Hogan passed away on July 24, 2025, at his home in Clearwater, Florida due to a sudden cardiac arrest. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Reports suggest that the concerned authorities said, "the nature of the call was for a cardiac arrest" and Hogan was pronounced dead at 11:17 a.m. He was 71 years old when he breathed his last on Thursday. To commemorate Hulk Hogan's legacy, the Stamford-based promotion is reportedly planning to pay tribute to the rich wrestling legacy of the maverick figure in this week's edition of SmackDown. Is WWE SmackDown going to pay a heartfelt tribute to Hulk Hogan? WWE confirmed his death, calling him 'one of pop culture's most recognizable figures.' It has now come to light that the Stamford-based promotion is going to pay a heartfelt tribute to the late wrestling icon on the July 25 edition of WWE SmackDown. This week SmackDown will emanate live from the Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. According to Fightful Select , WWE reached out to numerous legends to bring them in or film tributes for the late wrestler. It was said that some are traveling to SmackDown tonight as well. Besides, several WWE sources stated that they are looking to honor Hogan heavily tonight on . The Blue Brand tonight will host heavyweight champions, including Cody Rhodes, WWE Women's Champion Tiffany Stratton, Drew McIntyre, Logan Paul, Charlotte Flair, and Alexa Bliss, among others. Earlier on Thursday, WWE took to X/Twitter to post an obituary note. The company wrote, "WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. One of pop culture's most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. We extend its condolences to Hogan's family, friends, and fans.' Triple H pays his heartfelt tribute to Hulk Hogan Following the sudden demise of Hulk Hogan, several wrestling figures have poured their heartfelt tribute to the wrestling legend, including . Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The WWE chief took to his social media and posted a heartfelt tribute to Hogan and prayed for the departed soul. Taking to his X/Twitter account, he wrote, 'WWE would not be where it is today without the larger-than-life characters that compete in the ring … and few, if any, loomed larger than Terry 'Hulk Hogan' Bollea.' Sharing his in-ring memories with Hulk Hogan, Triple H further shared, 'He was the archetype of what it meant to be a 'Superstar'- a global sensation that inspired millions to work hard at whatever it was they wanted to accomplish and a look that made him recognizable to fans around the world.' He further stated, 'Hulk Hogan, clad in red and yellow or nWo black and white, was simply put, iconic. As a Real American or the leader of one of the industry's biggest factions, he transcended and elevated the entire business to heights never before seen - in every country and on every continent.' There was no one like The Hulkster and there very well may never be another. My family sends their condolences to his family, friends, and fans, he added. Also Read : Meanwhile, funeral arrangements of the legend are still pending as of writing this report. However, several social media users are expecting and calling for a state funeral to honor the wrestling legend's impact.