Politics

Morgan & Morgan sues Disney over Steamboat Willie Mickey Mouse ad

Published

3 months ago

September 17, 2025

It’s John Morgan versus The Mouse?

Morgan & Morgan filed a federal lawsuit against Disney on Wednesday related to the law firm’s commercial parodying the famous Steamboat Willie 1928 cartoon from Mickey Mouse’s early days.

The commercial, which says it wasn’t endorsed or authorized by Disney, shows Mickey Mouse crashing his steamboat into Minnie Mouse’s car. Minnie pulls out her cell and calls an attorney.

The law firm reached out to The Walt Disney Co. in advance and shared the commercial, alerting the entertainment giant that Morgan & Morgan planned to air the ad nationwide.

“The copyright on ‘Steamboat Willie’ expired on Jan. 1, 2024, and the property has, since that date, entered the public domain. We believe that the Advertisement does not violate any of the copyright rights that Disney originally enjoyed in and to the property,” Morgan & Morgan partner Damien Prosser wrote in the July letter, included in the court records.

Did Disney object? he asked.

“Disney’s policy is typically not to provide legal advice to third parties. Without waiver of any of its rights, Disney will not provide such advice in response to your letter,” Disney’s Chief Assistant Counsel Gloria Shaw wrote back.

That same month, Disney sued a jewelry store in California for its designs featuring Mickey Mouse.

Unsatisfied with Disney’s response and aware of the California lawsuit, Morgan & Morgan sued on Wednesday to get a ruling from the courts to declare its commercial didn’t violate Disney’s intellectual property rights.

“Disney’s history of aggressive enforcement of intellectual property rights, including recent trademark litigation against third parties using the same public domain work, combined with Disney’s refusal to disclaim an intent to engage in enforcement against Morgan & Morgan’s proposed use, has created a real, immediate, and substantial controversy,” Morgan & Morgan’s lawsuit said. “Morgan & Morgan faces a credible anticipation and threat of litigation that is causing ongoing business harm and chilling its lawful use of public-domain content.”

Disney did not respond to comment on Wednesday afternoon.

In dark irony to Morgan & Morgan’s commercial, a Disney World ferryboat reportedly crashed into a dock this Summer, although no lawsuits have yet been filed over the incident.

Steamboat Willie entered the public domain to great anticipation. Already, a horror movie called “Screamboat” with a scary Mickey Mouse knockoff has been released.

“On the last ferry of the night in New York, passengers and crew are hunted by a merciless rat, and what should have been a peaceful crossing turns into a bloody massacre,” the movie tagline reads.

Donald Harris, associate dean at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law, said having the Steamboat Willie version of Mickey Mouse going into the public domain could cost Disney some revenue and might hurt the theme park’s reputation.

“If someone else creates something else based on Steamboat Willie and people might confuse it as coming from Disney, then Disney has a potential trademark infringement suit. Trademark law, unlike copyright law, can last in perpetuity, so it adds an extra layer of protection. I suspect there could be lawsuits based on trademark rather than copyright,” he said in a Q&A published by the school last year. “In the case of Steamboat Willie, it has been protected by copyright; we’ve provided incentives for Disney to create it, and now it’s in the public domain. But we want to ensure that people are not confused with new works incorporating Steamboat Willie as coming from Disney. Trademark law ensures that we are using these new works without confusing consumers.”

Morgan and Morgan argued it hadn’t violated any intellectual property laws.

“Disney’s U.S. copyright for ‘Steamboat Willie’ has expired, and the work is now in the public domain, free for anyone to use without license,” the law firm’s lawsuit said. “Mindful of the expiration of copyright, Morgan & Morgan created the Advertisement incorporating certain visual elements from ‘Steamboat Willie’ in a manner consistent with its public domain status.”

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Politics

Ashley Moody, Rick Scott diverge on rescheduling pot

Published

4 hours ago

December 17, 2025

May Greene

Florida’s U.S. Senators are split on President Donald Trump potentially rescheduling cannabis.

While Rick Scott signed a letter opposing the move with GOP colleagues, Ashley Moody did not.

“Rescheduling marijuana to a Schedule III drug will undermine your strong efforts to Make America Great Again and to usher in America’s next economic Golden Age. The only winners from rescheduling will be bad actors such as Communist China, while Americans will be left paying the bill,” the letter claims.

The Senators argue that changing cannabis’ classification would harm America’s attempts to reindustrialize, would have health consequences, and would give a “massive tax break” to companies in the space.

“While supporters of rescheduling argue that extending tax benefits to marijuana businesses will create economic growth, the costs of workplace and vehicular accidents caused by increased marijuana usage far exceeds any perceived benefits—not to mention the moral costs of marijuana advertising that could reach kids.”

Scott has called marijuana a “gateway drug” and says his own brother died after a lifetime struggle with drugs that began with it, so his opposition to relaxed laws continues.

While Attorney General, Moody opposed legalization initiatives in Florida. However, rumors are that the White House is considering rescheduling to Schedule III, which would permit medical research but wouldn’t immediately make it more commercially available.

12.17.2025-Letter-on-Marijuana-Rescheduling-

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Politics

Florida military installations to divvy up nearly $1B in federal funding act

Published

5 hours ago

December 17, 2025

May Greene

10 military installations in the Sunshine State will get a cut of the funding approved by Congress.

U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody is touting approval by Congress of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which will bring nearly a billion dollars in funding for several military installations in Florida.

The measure passed along bipartisan lines in the Senate and covers defense funding for the next fiscal year. It authorizes about $900 billion in total for defense spending across the U.S. The House signed off on the measure last week.

The act earmarks about $851 million for Florida installations. It will also fund expanded shipbuilding and prioritize development of the “Golden Dome” missile defense system.

“The passage of this year’s NDAA is a victory for the strengthening of our national security and Florida’s military bases. It is vital for the protection of our great nation that our military has the resources needed to deter evil and stay mission ready. Sadly, just this week we lost two National Guardsmen and an interpreter far too soon at the hands of an apparent ISIS attack in Syria. My heart breaks for their families’ unimaginable loss. It is a stark reminder that we must continue our efforts to secure peace through a robust national defense,” Moody said in a news release Wednesday.

“Florida is proud to be the home of three combatant commands, including SOUTHCOM, CENTCOM and SOCOM, as well as 21 military installations which all play a highly important role in the United States’ military strategy. I will always fight for their interests, because a strong military is essential for a strong nation.”

Ten different military installations in Florida will get a partial cut of the funding including, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Eglin Air Force Base, Homestead Air Reserve Base, Hurlburt Field, MacDill Air Force Base, Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island, Naval Air Station Key West, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Naval Air Station Whiting Field and Tyndall Air Force Base.

Florida is home to more than 90,000 active military personnel in the state, and about 1.5 million military veterans reside here.

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Politics

New College Foundation announces $1M gift for ‘Socratic Stage’ program

Published

6 hours ago

December 17, 2025

May Greene

The New College Foundation has announced a $1 million donation from Dr. Michael C. and Ling Z. Markovitz to establish a new campus program centered on debate, classical learning and public discourse.

The donation, made directly to the New College Foundation, will help the college establish the Markovitz Socratic Stage, a signature forum dedicated to revitalizing civil discourse, classical learning and the free exchange of ideas on campus.

“We believe deeply in the power of ideas — and the courage it takes to explore them openly,” Michael said in a statement. “New College is leading a movement to bring back real dialogue, real debate, and real education. We are honored to support this mission and help build a program where students learn to think for themselves, speak with conviction, and engage with the world in meaningful ways.”

The donation will support a series of debates, lectures and discussion-based events meant to bring together students, faculty, visiting scholars and community members for debates, dialogues, books discussions, lecture series, public forums, intellectual events open to the community, and student-centered opportunities.

The program will be integrated into New College’s Logos/Techne curriculum and is expected to launch as a recurring campus initiative open to the public.

College President Richard Corcoran called the gift a “defining moment” for the institution, saying it aligns with New College’s emphasis on classical education and intellectual freedom.

“Michael and Ling Markovitz have made a profound and visionary commitment to New College,” he said. “Their gift strengthens our mission to revive rigorous classical education and restore the humanities as a force for intellectual freedom. The Markovitz Socratic Stage will impact generations of students by giving them a place to think deeply, debate boldly, and seek truth fearlessly.”

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