party entertainment companies - copyright violations?

[bmn]

I've noticed that there are many children's entertainment companies which offer characters that appear at children's parties. Many of those characters are obviously based on Disney's versions.

Examples:

http://www.fairy-tale-fantasies.com/character.htm
http://www.tealightfulparties.com/Princ ... acter.html
http://www.fantasyfables.com/

In many cases, they don't give Disney any credit, yet their characters look very similar to Disney's.

Are they legit? Or are they asking for lawsuits? Is there a way to tell if these companies used the characters with permission?

[drcorey]

I've noticed that there are many children's entertainment companies which offer characters that appear at children's parties. Many of those characters are obviously based on Disney's versions.

Examples:

http://www.fairy-tale-fantasies.com/character.htm
http://www.tealightfulparties.com/Princ ... acter.html
http://www.fantasyfables.com/

In many cases, they don't give Disney any credit, yet their characters look very similar to Disney's.

Are they legit? Or are they asking for lawsuits? Is there a way to tell if these companies used the characters with permission?

they are all asking for a lawsuit.

[SRT_GB]

I'm sure if you bring this up with Disney's corporate legal department they'll be on it like white on rice. Disney doesn't take too well to copyright violations.

[Sarah Magdalene]

They even have a Hannah Montanna character. The Cyrus' family need to look into it as well ... someone being a mock up of your daughter?

[Big Wallaby]

Not only is it a big legal thing, but I'm also thinking what about the children who have one of these character imitators come to their party, and the imitator messes up grand royally, I mean beyond trying to be Cinderella without the trainng from Disney? I can't help that many of these imitators are the ones who went to Disney and didn't have the right look, but they wanted to be that character anyway.

Were Disney's quality not so high, this would be an insult to Disney and our Princesses. Just because of the lack of quality and the danger to little kids' dreams, I want to see these companies knocked out of business.

The more I look at these, the more disgusting they are.

[bmn]

I've heard it's possible to report copyright problems by sending an e-mail to [email protected]. If enough people report these companies, Disney will probably hit them like a Chuck Norris roundhouse kick to the face. :p:

[Big Wallaby]

Yup. They've been reported again, with strong words of being offended as a Cast Member.

[Canuikstan]

Playing Devils advocate here...

Other than using the Disney licensed costumes... Does Disney hold all rights to the classic fairytale princess?

Cinderella, Snow white, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid all predate the Disney Company by a few centuries..

Which calls into question.. if you purchase a Disney Licensed costume, are you not allowed to wear it? I am sure as long as they don't claim to BE Disney Princesses..... they have some form of defense..

[SRT_GB]

Playing Devils advocate here...

Other than using the Disney licensed costumes... Does Disney hold all rights to the classic fairytale princess?

Cinderella, Snow white, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid all predate the Disney Company by a few centuries..

I'm pretty sure someone mentioned on another thread that the fairy tale princesses are public domain, but Disney's representation of them is not. If these entertainment companies use something unique to Disney's adaptation of the stories (the name "Ariel" for example), that is a violation of Disney's copyright.

[drcorey]

Not only is it a big legal thing, but I'm also thinking what about the children who have one of these character imitators come to their party, and the imitator messes up grand royally, I mean beyond trying to be Cinderella without the trainng from Disney? I can't help that many of these imitators are the ones who went to Disney and didn't have the right look, but they wanted to be that character anyway.

Were Disney's quality not so high, this would be an insult to Disney and our Princesses. Just because of the lack of quality and the danger to little kids' dreams, I want to see these companies knocked out of business.

The more I look at these, the more disgusting they are.

thats why it's copyrighted. if a fake snow is rude or visous to your child,
it refects back on Disney's real Ms White.