The case that Milne's agent's heirs brought against Disney for marketing Winnie the Pooh merch has been dismissed "with prejudice," after 13 years in court. Milne's agent's heirs brought the suit against Disney — who had acquired a Pooh license from Milne's own heirs — after discovering the Milne had signed over the Pooh merch rights to his agent in the thirties. The liability overhang was stupendous: potentially enough to kill the company.
Stephen Slesinger Inc., the family firm with U.S. merchandising rights to the honey-loving bear, had argued that Disney reneged on promises to pay royalties on video cassettes and short-changed it on other items…
In a hearing last month, Disney asked Los Angeles Superior Court judge Charles McCoy, who took over last October, to throw out the case, accusing Slesinger of stealing evidence. Slesinger had denied those charges.
(Thanks, Amanda!)
