Both have round heads. Both have prominent mouse ears in silhouette. We haven't seen too many actual mice who look like that, but we all recognise the image and this mouse fight comes as no surprise to anyone.
deadmau5 (pronounced Dead Mouse) is an international DJ smashing out tracks such as "Professional Griefers" with 9 million YouTube views. Basically, a big time musician.
In the other corner is Disney, famous for Goofy, The Little Mermaid, that stupid "Let it go" song and of course the most famous mouse ever – Mickey.
deadmau5 is in a scrap with Disney over his attempt to trade mark his image of a mouse which he uses everywhere, including on stage. Disney objected, to which deadmau5 responded "Disney thinks you might confuse an established electronic musician / performer with a cartoon mouse. That's how stupid they think you are". Good one deadmau5.
However, while DJ logic and the social media world might reckon deadmau5 has a point, the law says he's in a spot of bother.
In most countries, if a trade mark transcends its original meaning and becomes generally "well known", then protection is extended not only to the goods or services which are sold under that trade mark, but across everything.
For example, there's no way someone could start a business called "Google Cars". Although Google Inc isn't in the car selling business or anything like it, its trade mark is so well known that it is legally protected across every product and service.
Disney says the same applies to Mickey Mouse and his trade mark ears. Has Mickey transcended cartoons? We think so. Although deadmau5 has no connection with Mickey Mouse, he's stepped on a legal land mine and we're probably looking at a dead mouse. Sorry, had to say it.
We do not disclaim anything about this article. We're quite proud of it really.
