IPNews® – Disney Enterprises Inc. prevailed on Thursday in a copyright infringement lawsuit in Missouri federal court accusing it of misappropriating the titles and story lines of its 2009 and 2010 “Santa Paws” movies from a 1991 illustrated Christmas story.

Disney’s movies are not substantially similar to the protected expression in the plaintiffs’ short story, Judge Catherine D. Perry ruled. Plaintiffs Ray Harter, Jr., Richard Kearney, and Ed Corno drafted an illustrated children’s story, alternatively called Santa Paws and Christmas Paws, in 1991, and tried to shop it around for a film adaptation with little success. To continue reading, click: Disney Beats “Santa Paws” Copyright Infringement Claims