The longstanding dispute between entertainment conglomerate Disney and Canadian producer, DJ Deadmau5, real name Joel Zimmerman has been resolved. According to one of Zimmerman's lawyers via The Hollywood Reporter, "Disney and Deadmau5 have amicably resolved their dispute." The terms have not been made public yet, but they will likely be made available via the Trademark Office.
The dispute stemmed from when Deadmau5 decided to file a trademark on his Mau5 helmet that has been a part of the Canadian producer's live show for several years. Disney did not have a problem with the helmet until Zimmerman and his team filed to trademark it.
In September Disney filed opposition papers, which tried to block Deadmau5's claim, alleging that the helmet was "nearly identical in appearance, connotation and overall commercial impression to Disney's Mouse Ears Marks." Disney was afraid Deadmau5's helmet would "cause confusion" among consumers.
Deadmau5 fired off his own response on social media and through his lawyers, who have apparently settled the case. He made public an idea for a re-imagining of Fantasia that had been pitched to him by Disney with Deadmau5's music as the centerpiece.
The two parties had done business together before the dispute and were on course to do a bit more. Deadmau5 licensed his hit song "Ghosts N' Stuff" for a Disney video game, the aforementioned Fantasia re-imagine and a possible move to remix the Star Wars theme song.
Now that all of this is in the past, the two parties might be able to restart some prior communications and get back to doing business.
Pieces of information to look for in the agreement, once released, include any possible amendments to registrations and a withdrawal to Disney's opposition, which one would assume would be the only way this was settled.
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