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John Heisner Obtains Favorable Settlement in Copyright Infringement Against Pixar and Disney

March 27, 2007 – After approximately three years of hotly-contested litigation, SHLR&E lawyers, led by shareholder John R. Heisner, obtained a favorable monetary settlement from Pixar and Disney on behalf of its client, famed cartoonist Stanley "Mouse" Miller. In the action, Miller alleged that Pixar and Disney infringed upon his copyright by copying a unique one-eyed cartoon character that Pixar artists used to create "Mike Wazowski," the small, one-eyed leading character in the financially successful animated film entitled Monsters, Inc.

Miller has been a successful artist since the early 1960's and his unique cartoon artwork and hobby-kits, consisting of monsters and odd hot-rod vehicles, were widely purchased by children and adults of all ages since that time. Artists at both Pixar and Disney were not only very familiar with Miller's artwork, some had their own collection of his work.

The one-eyed character that Miller alleged eventually appeared in Monsters, Inc. was so unique that in the entire history of art it has only been seen in two venues - Monsters, Inc., and the artwork of Stanley "Mouse" Miller.

Following an extensive presentation of the artwork used by Pixar and Disney to make the animated film, as well as a comparison of that artwork with Miller's creations, the U.S. District Court ruled in Miller's favor during a motion for summary judgment setting the stage for the mediation and settlement negotiations that followed. While the terms and conditions of that settlement are confidential, the settlement was immediately followed by an announcement of the merger between Pixar and Disney. Also, the Monsters, Inc. exhibit now on display at Anaheim's Disneyland was subsequently erected and has become one of the more popular attractions at the park.