Trademark lawsuit alleges Disney intentionally ripped off Portland Pickles
The baseball organization filed the complaint against Walt Disney Company on Wednesday, arguing that Pixar Animation Studio's new series is violating trademark laws. The cartoon, which premiered on Disney+ in February, follows the story of a softball team titled the Pickles.
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that the fictional players' green and white jerseys, logo and graphics closely resemble those of the real-life Portland team. Pickles President and Co-owner Alan Miller originally said that taking legal action against Disney would be a 'last resort,' but it appears the organization has changed its tune.
'Fueled by incredible support from our fans and community members from all walks of life, we felt we had no choice but to protect our rights — not just for ourselves, but on behalf of the little guy,' the Pickles said in a statement.
The team's lawsuit is arguing Disney has intentionally used its 'outsized market power' to copy the smaller brand that has been trademarked since 2016. The entertainment company has also begun selling merchandise to promote the new series, which plaintiffs claim has prompted confusion among local baseball fans.
According to the Pickles, several supporters have asked the organization whether it is affiliated with Disney. The team also fears its own merchandise could be mistaken as unlicensed apparel for the company's new series.
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'This confusion directly threatens to erode the goodwill and consumer recognition that Plaintiff has cultivated through years of consistent and distinctive use of their marks on high-quality baseball merchandise, ultimately damaging their commercial reputation and control over their brand identity,' the lawsuit reads.
KOIN 6 has reached out to Disney for comment.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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