Disney Wins Ruling in 16-Year Battle Over Pooh Rights
(News | Source: Bloomberg)
The Walt Disney Company won a ruling on a 16-year battle over $700 million dollars of royalties for Winnie the Pooh merchandise. Stephen Slesinger Inc. owns the rights to Pooh and claims that Disney had not accurately accounted for the royalties it owed. A judge in 2004 threw out the lawsuit due to Stephen Slesinger Inc. illegally obtaining evidence in the case.
Disney “is obviously extremely pleased and gratified that there’s now a definite and final decision putting this case to rest once and for all,” its lawyer, Daniel Petrocelli, said.
Slesinger will appeal the case to the California Supreme Court and pursue a counterclaim in federal court seeking $2 billion in damages and terminate Disney’s merchandising rights for Pooh.
