The Walt Disney Company and the Portland Pickles have settled a copyright infringement lawsuit. This comes after Pickles operator Rose City Baseball LLC sued Disney in May over T-shirts referencing a fictional baseball team in the animated Disney+ show Win or Lose.
Pickles claimed that in Win or Lose, their mascot, Dillon T. Pickle, was basically copied. The co-ed team in the series is called the Pickles. Merchandise for the series showed a pickle with a smile.
“Disney’s conduct threatens to overshadow years of grassroots growth, community engagement, creative expression, and national expansion,” the Portland Pickles’ lawsuit claimed, adding that it “sets a dangerous precedent that no matter how successful a small brand becomes, it is vulnerable to appropriation by the world’s largest media companies.”
The settlement has been agreed to in principle, and the Pickles have asked a judge for 30 days to finalize it. At this point, neither Disney nor the Pickles has responded to media requests for statements on the settlement. Presumably, this settlement will have benefits for both parties.
Win or Lose is Pixar’s first animated series. It follows intertwined stories of eight different characters as they prepare for the big championship softball game. The series allows the viewer to experience the perspective of the different characters.
