Frozen Rip-off? Disney Sues Phase 4 films For Allegedly Making A Rip-off Of Frozen!

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Frozen
Disney

Disney is suing film distributor Phase 4 films for allegedly changing the title of one of their (Phase 4 films) movies to piggyback on the success of Disney's Frozen.

"On November 1, 2013, less than three weeks before the Hollywood premiere of FROZEN on November 19, Phase 4 theatrically released an animated picture entitled The Legend of Sarila, which generated minimal box office revenues and received no significant attention," says the complaint.

The lawsuit adds that Phase 4 knew of Frozen, and so to add to the commercial success of Sarila, Phase 4 films "redesigned the artwork, packaging, logo, and other promotional materials for its newly (and intentionally misleadingly) retitled film to mimic those used by [Disney] for FROZEN and related merchandise."

Although film titles can't be trademarked that doesn't stop movie studios from registering trademarks for associated merchandise. There's also the Lanham Act, preventing companies/persons/etc from selling goods designed to confuse the source of origin of some trademark.

The lawsuit filed on behalf of Disney by attorney Steven Marenberg includes a side-by-side look at the logos.

and a description of the allegations.

"As is apparent from the face of the FROZEN LAND logo, despite the infinite options available to it, Phase 4 intended its logo to replicate the FROZEN Trademark Logo of Disney's FROZEN," says the lawsuit. "For example, the FROZEN Land logo also includes jagged, uneven edges on the lettering, dramatic flourishes on the letters, and an elongated R and Z that cradle a stylized O that curves into itself and does not close entirely. In addition, the word 'frozen' is significantly larger than the word 'land.' The two logos are nearly identical."

Disney is asking for an injunction and destruction of all DVDs for Frozen Land. The plaintiff also seeks compensatory and damages, lost profits and actual damages.

You can read the entire lawsuit document here

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