Disney’s Easy Escape From Evel Knievel Suit Probed by 9th Cir.

The speed with which Walt Disney Studios dispatched a trademark and right-of-publicity suit over “Toy Story 4" by the heirs of late stuntman Evel Knievel received scrutiny from the Ninth Circuit at oral arguments Wednesday.

In September 2021, Disney secured an easy dismissal of claims that Pixar’s movie aped Knievel through the character and merchandise of Duke Caboom, a motorcycle-riding daredevil voiced by Keanu Reeves. But a US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit panel expressed concern over the trial court’s lack of explanation and analysis on aspects of the dismissal.

The appeal by K&K Promotions Inc., which claims ...