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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1 2
Working Through the System
How Meals on Wheels Atlanta Stepped Up for Its Community
Don’t Make These DUI Mistakes
3
Do You Qualify for Expungement?
The Secret to Delicious Grilled Veggies
4
The Case That Was Frozen on Arrival
You never have to go it alone if you’re charged with a crime or facing any other legal issue. If you or a loved one are in trouble with the law, call me right away at 310-424-3145. I’m here to get you the legal help you need (and if your issue is outside of my areas of expertise, I can connect you with other trusted, experienced attorneys).
THE WOMAN WHO SUED DISNEY FOR COPYING HER LIFE IN ‘FROZEN’ THE CASE THAT WAS FROZEN ON ARRIVAL
T his is the story of a woman who just couldn’t let it go. It was the fall of 2014 — Dennis Rodman became friends with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Ellen DeGeneres’ selfie with Oscar winners at the Academy Awards became the most retweeted image of all time. And an author sued Disney for $250 million after she claimed that the company stole major elements of her published memoir to craft the movie “Frozen.” “Frozen” was released in November 2013 and saw massive box office success and critical acclaim. It seemed like Walt Disney Animation Studios was finally hitting their stride and catching up to Pixar movies’ quality animation and storytelling. Unfortunately, high- profile movie projects and financiers with deep pockets tend to attract all sorts of hullabaloo in the form of frivolous lawsuits. Author Isabella Tanikumi, whose only notable work to date is her 2011 memoir “Yearnings of the Heart,” sued Disney for an egregious $250 million after claiming that the winter wonderland adventures of Anna, Elsa, and Olaf were stolen straight from her memoir and her life and violated copyright law. She cited 18 “similarities” to bolster her massive claim. For instance, Tanikumi claimed that both her book and the movie had stories of intense sisterly love, scenes
under the moon, and talk about cold hearts.
The tenuousness of the similarities alone would
cause most people to dismiss Tanikumi’s claim like they would the ramblings of a red yarn- loving conspiracy theorist. And that’s just what the judge who oversaw the case did, granting Disney’s motion to dismiss. The judge stated that copyright law
protects expressions but not ideas. The themes that Tanikumi believed Disney had stolen from her story were under public domain, usable by anyone without permission. Only Tanikumi herself knows for sure why she went through all that trouble. Everyone else will just have to speculate what gave her the gall to take on a media juggernaut like Disney in court with next to no viable case. That said, several reviews of her memoir on Amazon mention ties to “Frozen,” so make of that what you will.
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