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Esplanade Productions, Inc. v. The Walt Disney Company et al

  1. November 08, 2017

    Disney Sheds Writer's Copyright Suit Over 'Zootopia'

    A California federal judge on Wednesday tossed a copyright feud over The Walt Disney Co.'s film "Zootopia," nixing a screenwriter's claims that the studio ripped off his television pitch and declining to let him amend them.

  2. October 02, 2017

    Disney's 'Zootopia' And Writer's Pitch Not Alike: Judge

    A California federal judge on Monday said he's considering permanently tossing a copyright claim against Disney in a screenwriter's amended suit accusing the studio of ripping off his television pitch with its hit animated film "Zootopia," saying the works "aren't very much alike."

  3. August 29, 2017

    Disney Seeks Out Of 'Zootopia' Copyright Suit Again

    The Walt Disney Co. urged a California federal judge on Monday to toss a screenwriter's suit alleging that the entertainment giant ripped off his show to create the animated film "Zootopia," arguing that the plot and characters in the screenwriter's work aren't remotely similar to Disney's hit flick.

  4. August 04, 2017

    'Zootopia' Copyright Suit Sees New Character, Art Details

    A screenwriter accusing The Walt Disney Co. of copyright infringement over the animated hit "Zootopia" detailed a host of new similarities between the film and his own works on Thursday after a California federal judge gave him a chance to add specificity to his claims. 

  5. June 26, 2017

    Disney Ducks 'Zootopia' Copyright Case, For Now

    A California federal judge on Monday tentatively tossed a copyright suit claiming The Walt Disney Co. lifted the smash animated hit "Zootopia" from a successful screenwriter's unproduced treatment, questioning the writer's decision not to attach the purportedly infringed work to the suit but granting permission to refile a more detailed complaint.

  6. June 08, 2017

    Disney Can't Toss 'Zootopia' Copyright Suit, Writer Says

    A film production company has told a California federal court that the Walt Disney Co.'s attempt to toss its copyright suit accusing the studio of stealing much of its smash hit "Zootopia" from a prominent screenwriter's unproduced treatment tried to distract from substantial resemblances among the works by dissecting them piecemeal.

  7. May 23, 2017

    Disney Wants 'Zootopia' Copyright Case Killed

    The Walt Disney Co. asked a federal judge Monday to toss out a copyright lawsuit claiming the studio stole its smash hit "Zootopia" from a screenwriter's unproduced treatment, calling the case a classic example of "out of the woodwork" accusations after a movie strikes box office gold.

  8. March 21, 2017

    Disney Accused Of Stealing Idea For 'Zootopia' Movie

    The Walt Disney Co. was hit with a copyright lawsuit Thursday accusing the studio of stealing much of its smash hit "Zootopia" from a prominent screenwriter's unproduced treatment.