Disney Defeats Turtle Character Copyright Suit Without Trial

Disney was successful in its bid to end a copyright case against it without a trial in a dispute over a blue-eyed, ukulele-playing turtle character at its Aulani Resort in Oahu.

The company was granted summary judgment on the copyright claim against it because it created its turtle character before the plaintiff’s similar character took on the relevant traits, Judge Dale S. Fischer, of the US District Court for the Central District of California, said. Fischer also granted Disney summary judgment on an unfair competition claim under the Lanham Act because he concluded the claim was barred by John Enos’s ...