Disney owns Santa?

[formercia]

That's what they say....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6189521.stm

Disney tells Santa clone ho-ho no

When James Worley paid a visit to Disney World in Florida his portly frame and white beard soon had kids asking: "Are you Santa Claus?"

Not wanting to disappoint, Mr Worley, 60, played along with some "ho-ho-hos".

But Disney officials descended, telling him to stop the impersonation or get out of the park. They said they wanted to preserve the magic of Santa.

--snip--

He said Disney had told him "Santa was considered a Disney character".

--snip--

[wakeme2008]

1. Been there done that :)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3020523&mesg_id=3020523

[YOY]

2. I would invite their lawyers on this one

I would love to see just how they have trademarked Saint Nick. One could throw a stone and hit a lawyer willing to take Disney on in such a case.

If they push the issue, get Coca-Cola, Norelco, and Home Depot or anyone else who uses the jolly fat man in thier comercials.

This is like Budwiser saying they've copyrighted Clydesdale horses.

This is why I dispise disney.

[formercia]

3. Coca-Cola was the first to commercialize Santa

about 3 generations ago.


Public Domain methinks, but then Disney is well known to take public Domain titles, republish or make a film then copyright the character.

[noonwitch]

5. Yeah, I always thought Coke owned the rights to Santa and to Polar Bears.

I actually like some of the old Coke-Santa art.

[TAPat]

6. Maybe they left out the

'Clause' in the article?

Weren't those Santa Clause flicks pumped out by Disney?

[marmar]

4. Why not? The Republican Party owns the marketing rights to God.

:sarcasm:

[TechBear_Seattle]

7. So in ten years, I will be banned from every Disney park?

Between my build and beard I have been asked if I'm Santa, and I don't even have a Santa outfit. (I tell them that Santa is my uncle, becase my uncle did work as a professional Santa for several years.) But in about 10 to 15 years, when my beard has a lot more grey in it....

Wow. I hope Six Flags is more tolerant.

[On the Road]

8. There IS No Sanity Clause

at least in Disney contracts.

[treestar]

9. He is considered a Disney character?

By whom?

:rofl:

[Bear down under]

10. An interview with Mr Worley:

http://www.cnn.com/video/player/player.html?url=/video/us/2006/12/16/patrick.fl.santa.kick.out.disney.wtvt.wtvt

Seeing it, I can quite believe kids run up to him saying "Look it's Santa!", and not just at Christmas. He looks exactly like the standard image of him.