Deadmau5 and Disney settle trademark dispute over mouse ears: report
Disagreement was ended 'amicably,' lawyer for Canadian DJ says
Toronto electronic dance music DJ Joel Zimmerman, best-known by his rodent inspired stage name Deadmau5, has reportedly reached a deal with Disney over his disputed use of mouse ears.
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The Canadian artist and the California-based media conglomerate reached an undisclosed settlement to end a months-long legal battle, reports The Hollywood Reporter.
Zimmerman's lawyer told the publication that the two sides have ended their disagreement "amicably."
Details of the deal are unclear, and Zimmerman has remained uncharacteristically quiet on the matter on his Twitter account. However, terms of settlement will likely be made public when the papers are officially filed to the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
'Lawyer up, Mickey'
The trouble began late last year when Disney tried to block Zimmerman from trademarking his signature mouse head on the grounds that it too closely resembles their iconic Mickey Mouse silhouette.
At the time, Zimmerman's lawyer told Radar Online that the artist's mouse head logo — which he has been using since 2005 — was already a registered trademark in 30 countries, including the U.K., Ireland, Germany, France, Australia and Japan.
The 34-year-old DJ taunted the family entertainment powerhouse on Twitter.
landed home to some interesting news: looks like Disney officially just filed in opposition of my trademark... lawyer up mickey.
—@deadmau5The deal comes just days after the mouse-headed musician settled a dispute with the creators of Deadmouse: The Musical.
Zimmerman claimed that the title of the show, which is running at the Toronto Fringe Festival next month, infringed on his trademarked name.
He backed down after the show's creators added a disclaimer specifying that the show about house-music culture is a parody.