LOS ANGELES – A Los Angeles corporation alleges The Walt Disney Co. infringed its work with the "Zootopia" animated film.
Esplanade Productions Inc. filed a complaint on March 21 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against The Walt Disney Co., Disney Enterprises Inc., Walt Disney Pictures, ABC Inc., Buena Vista Home Entertainment Inc., et al. alleging copyright infringement and other counts.
According to the complaint, Gary L. Goldman formed the plaintiff company in 1984 and is the CEO. The suit states he developed the concept for "Zootopia" between 2000 and 2009, and pitched it to the defendants, who were not interested. The plaintiff alleges that the defendants copied its work for the Disney "Zootopia" film.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks to enjoin the defendants, impound all infringing materials, punitive damages, all legal fees, interest, and any other relief as this court deems just. It is represented by Gary E. Gans, Jeffery D. McFarland, Shahin Rezvani and Aaron H. Perahia of Quinn Emanual Urquhart & Sullivan LLP in Los Angeles.
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California Case number 2:17-cv-02185-MWF-JC