Disney trying to prevent Deadmau5’s mouse ears trademark

Deadmau5-disney-ears-lawsuit (2014 Tim Mosenfelder)

The Walt Disney Co. has filed an objection to musician deadmau5’s effort to trademark his signature logo, claiming that the musician’s stylized mouse ears is too similar to its iconic brand.

The company, in a filing with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, said that deadmau5’s logo “is nearly identical in appearance, connotation and overall commercial impression to Disney’s Mouse Ears Marks.” Disney noted that “both parties marks are comprised of a round head with prominent round mouse ears in silhouette,” and that the trademark designation was likely to cause confusion and dilution of its own marks.

Deadmau5, a.k.a. Joel Zimmerman, has long used the “mau5head” logo, but Disney filed its objection on Tuesday after the performer’s attorneys filed a trademark application last year to cover the use of the logo across a variety of products.

Deadmau5 tweeted on Tuesday, “Disney thinks you might confuse an established electronic musician / performer with a cartoon mouse. That’s how stupid they think you are.” He holds trademarks on the mouse ears in other countries.

Disney, however, has long had a reputation for aggressively defending its trademarks. It cited its own use of the mouse ears as far back as 1928.

The performer has until Oct. 12 to answer Disney’s objections, with an extended period for discovery and trial.