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Deadmau5 responds to Disney trademark suit, says company stole his music

Deadmau5 responds to Disney trademark suit, says company stole his music

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Deadmau5 is going on offense in response to Disney's trademark infringement suit. Last week, Disney moved to block a trademark request filed by the artist, whose real name is Joel Zimmerman, on grounds that the Deadmau5 logo is too similar to the company's own Mickey Mouse logo. Now Zimmerman and his lawyers have filed a cease and desist letter against Disney, claiming that it used his 2009 hit "Ghosts 'n' Stuff" without the artist's permission. On Twitter, Zimmerman linked to a short video remix on Disney's site that shows Mickey Mouse running around a haunted castle to the tune of Deadmau5's track.

Zimmerman has successfully obtained trademark rights in over 30 countries over the years, but Disney is concerned that the trademark, which would cover a wide range of merchandise, is too similar to its iconic mouse ears logo. Zimmerman took to Twitter to defend the trademark application, and posted the text of the cease and desist letter in full. "I never gave disney a liscene [sic] to use my track," the artist explained on Twitter earlier this week. "So we emailed you a C&D." Alongside the cease and desist, Zimmerman posted a personal message to Disney: "Have a magical fucking day!"

In a statement released to Rolling Stone, a representative said that "Disney vigorously protects its trademark rights, and we oppose Mr. Zimmerman’s attempt to register a logo that is nearly identical to our trademarks for his commercial exploitation." The spokesperson added: "Our opposition is not about the use of the Deadmau5 costume. The music was appropriately licensed, and there is no merit to his statement."