Company Luxo lamp company sues Disney

[Tom Morrow]

Luxo lamp company sues Disney

Pixar’s Animated Desk Lamp Triggers Lampmaker Lawsuit Bloomberg News Pixar Animation Studios’ hopping desk-lamp character Luxo Jr., which debuted in 1986 and became part of the filmmaker’s corporate identity, triggered a trademark lawsuit by the Norwegian lampmaker Luxo AS. Pixar and owner Walt Disney Co. are infringing Luxo’s brand by selling functioning, special-edition lamps bearing the Luxo Jr. name and using a six-foot animatronic version in the Walt Disney World theme park, Luxo said yesterday in a complaint in federal court in New York. Sales of the Pixar lamps, packaged with a Disney DVD, will confuse consumers and “cause devastating damage to Luxo and dilute the goodwill which Luxo has built up” by selling high- quality lamps, Oslo-based Luxo said in the complaint. by Erik Larson complete article

Submitted by Ezra

[F!kid]

23 years... and NOW they have a problem?


~

[Chris]

Its probably because Disney didn't come to them to make the lamps. There will be a settlement. That logo isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

[Disneyland_DHI]

but even if they are being sued, I still want one if it comes with UP!

[alyx92]

^get it now before they go bye bye.......

[Sesshomaru-sama]

I'm wondering how this will be "devastating" to Luxo if The Walt Disney Company are selling these animotronic versions. Can anyone explain that to me?

Sincerely, a brother of a half-demon,
Sesshomaru-sama

[Ezra]

Simple. Luxo AS makes lamps in Norway — very good lamps that are sold all over the world. They're powder-finished stainless steel, and they last a lifetime. Disney comes along and markets a little plastic lamp as a collectable. People can see this in the local Toys 'R' Us and think that Luxo makes "cheap" lamps — it threatens their image as a high quality product.

Luxo never complained before because they were getting free "product placement" in movies — which is the kind of advertising that companies normally pay good money for. But Luxo AS has claimed exclusive right to the name "Luxo" as a trademark in connection with any lighting product. Whenever another company, any company, makes a lamp and puts the name "Luxo" on it, Luxo AS has every right to protect their trademark from illegal knock-offs.

I have to side with the lamp manufacturer here. They have every right to be the only maker of lamps called "Luxo". That's what trademarks are for. I think Disney made a terrible mistake by putting the name "Luxo Jr." right on the packaging — and probably by even making the things in the first place. Disney is very protective of their trademarks, so they should have known better.

[lpetiti]

^But why are they waiting 23 years after Luxo, Jr. first came out to file a lawsuit?

[jessiestudio]

Well Disney and or Pixar have never made an actual lighting product to sell the Luxo Jr. has always just been an animated character it never actually existed outside of that realm of the imagination. Thus this being the first actual physical product that is a light that goes on and off, collectible or not, they finally have a reason to go after them even though its all been good for the past 23 years.

For example if an entertainment company made a picture of an Apple Computer their logo and the company was a great at what they did then Apple would be happy having the free advertising. But if the company started making plastic little apples that always got viruses and froze up then sold them at target in the toys section it would make apple look bad. And that is essentially whats going on here. The company was not a threat to Apple (Luxo)'s image until now so the past 23 years have just been good advertising. Everything is good until the image of your product is tainted.

Disney should have gone in on a partnership with Luxo before even considering this move.

[Tom Morrow]

Luxo lamp lawsuit settled

Disney settles Pixar 'Luxo Jr.' lamp case Hollywood Reporter Fortunately, Pixar won't have to turn off the lights on its famous character, Luxo Jr. Two months ago, trouble broke out after Disney began selling limited-edition "Luxo Jr." lamps packaged with a Blu-ray version of Up. On September 3, Luxo sued Disney for trademark infringement. We've learned that the parties have reach an amicable settlement and the lawsuit has been withdrawn. Disney will stay out of the lighting business, and for now we hear that Luxo doesn't have any problem with "artistic renditions" of the lamp. by Eriq Gardner complete article

Submitted by Ezra