Page 11 - IAV Digital Magazine #507

iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine
Evel Knievel's Son Sues Disney Over Toy Story 4 Character
Evel Knievel's son is suing Disney over a daredevil charac- ter in the animat- ed film Toy Story 4.
Kelly Knievel has held the publicity rights to his father's name since 1998, according to his US District Court filing in Las Vegas.
The federal trademark infringement law- suit claims that Disney-owned Pixar did not ask permission to use his father's like- ness when creat- ing the character Duke Caboom.
Knievel is seek- ing damages of more than $300,000 (£235,000) over allegations
including false endorsement and unjust enrich- ment.
The 60-year-old said: "Evel Knievel did not thrill millions around the world, break his bones and spill his blood just so
Disney could make a bunch of money."
Duke Caboom, voiced by Keanu Reeves in last year's film, was a 1970s toy who rides a motorbike and is "Canada's greatest stunt- man", the lawsuit
said.
Knievel was famous for stunts such as a motor- bike jump over a row of buses at Wembley Stadium.
He was seriously injured many times during 75
motorbike jumps, but died from lung disease in 2007.
An Evel Knievel toy was released in 1973 with a white helmet and jumpsuit, with a motorbike that could be pro- pelled with a
wind-up device.
Disney and Pixar released a similar Duke Caboom toy along with Toy Story 4.
The toy also fea- tured in McDonald's Happy Meals.
The lawsuit claims con- sumers and film reviewers "uni- versally caught on to the connec- tion", despite the film company and Reeves avoiding any comparison.
Jeffrey R Epstein, corpo- rate spokesman for The Walt Disney Co, described Knievel's claims as meritless, say- ing the film com- pany will defend itself vigorously.
iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine