Morgan and Morgan have dropped their lawsuit against Disney regarding the use of Steamboat Willie, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
©Disney
The law firm previously sued the company in September 2025 over the potential use of Steamboat Willie in its advertisements. The suit was filed in federal court, claiming that the character is not copyrighted because the U.S. copyright expired in 2024.
The lawsuit initially asked a judge to rule that the firm could use an adaptation of the nearly 100-year-old “Steamboat Willie” cartoon in one of its ads. During the dismissal, the personal injury firm asked a federal court to dismiss the suit without prejudice. That means another legal action could be filed in the future if they want to bring it back to court.
Mickey and Steamboat Willie
In the filing, they didn’t say why the suit was dropped or if a settlement was reached out of court. During the first filing, Morgan & Morgan claimed it reached out to Disney to make sure they wouldn’t be sued for using Steamboat Willie in its ads, and Disney’s lawyers said they didn’t offer legal advice to third parties.
Steamboat Willie ©Disney
The law firm said it was filing the lawsuit to get an official decision because it feared being sued by Disney for trademark infringement. Morgan & Morgan did not immediately respond to a request for comment, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
Weighted Steamboat Willie Plush
The black-and-white animated ad that Morgan & Morgan wanted to air depicted Mickey captaining a boat on land that crashes into a car driven by Minnie. She then pulled out her phone and called the law firm. In the beginning and ending of the commercial, there is a voiceover advising that Disney did not approve or authorize the statement. The animated short initially debuted in 1928, and it serves as the official debut of Mickey and Minnie Mouse. It entered the public domain last year, but Disney still holds the trademark rights and copyright protections for modern versions of the character.
Steamboat Willie artwork!
In regard to the case, Katie Rosborough, a Disney spokeswoman, said, “Disney remains committed to guarding against unlawful copyright and trademark infringement to avoid consumer confusion caused by unauthorized uses of Mickey Mouse and our other iconic characters.” Be sure to keep following DFB for the latest Disney news and updates.
Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros. File NEW Lawsuit, Claiming a Threat to ‘The Entire American Motion Picture Industry’
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
Tell us your thoughts in the comments!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
There’s no justifiable reason for Morgan & Morgan to use Mickey Mouse in advertising. It only reconfirms the lack of ethics. That firm represents the absolute worst in ambulance chasers.