The Walt Disney Company has filed a lawsuit in federal court against Hong Kong-based Red Earth Group, accusing the company of infringing on its long-standing Mickey Mouse trademarks. The complaint, filed on July 16 in Los Angeles, targets Red Earth’s popular Satéur Mickey 1928 Collection, which includes rings, necklaces, and earrings modeled after the earliest version of the Mickey Mouse character.
Disney contends that the jewelry line misleads consumers by mimicking the image and style of Steamboat Willie—the 1928 black-and-white animated short that marked Mickey’s debut—and falsely implies a connection to the entertainment giant. The complaint alleges that Red Earth is capitalizing on public interest in the character’s public domain status, even though Disney still holds active trademarks on the Mickey Mouse name and his likeness for branding purposes.
One of the most prominent pieces in question is the Mickey 1928 Classique Ring, a gold-tone band featuring a large synthetic gemstone topped by a silver-colored Mickey figurine styled after the Steamboat Willie design. The ring is marketed as a “timeless tribute” to Disney’s original character, but Disney argues that the marketing intentionally blurs the line between tribute and official licensing.
In its court filing, Disney asserts: “Red Earth intends to present Mickey Mouse as its own brand identifier and is deliberately using phrases like ‘Disney enthusiasts’ to sow confusion.” The company claims that Red Earth’s product descriptions and advertisements mislead customers into believing the jewelry is officially licensed, when in fact it is not.
Disney is asking the court to block Red Earth from continuing to advertise or sell any products associated with the Mickey 1928 Collection and seeks damages for what it calls a willful and unauthorized use of its intellectual property.
Public Domain Confusion and Trademark Law
The legal debate over Mickey Mouse intensified in January 2024, when the Steamboat Willie version of the character entered the U.S. public domain after nearly a century of copyright protection. While this milestone allows artists and companies to use the original 1928 animation in new creative works, it does not eliminate Disney’s rights to protect the character as a registered trademark—particularly when used as a brand symbol or marketing tool.
This distinction forms the basis of Disney’s legal argument. While Red Earth may legally refer to or recreate Steamboat Willie’s design in artistic works, Disney maintains that using the character in commercial branding—especially jewelry that resembles licensed merchandise—violates trademark laws.
“Copyright expiration doesn’t mean a free-for-all on trademarked icons,” said one U.S.-based IP attorney not involved with the case. “You can recreate Steamboat Willie as a cartoon or commentary, but you can’t use it to sell goods in a way that suggests brand endorsement.”
Disney’s filing emphasizes that trademark protection remains active on the Mickey Mouse name, image, and related branding. These marks cover a broad range of products, including clothing, toys, and jewelry. In this context, Disney argues that Red Earth’s jewelry attempts to pass itself off as part of its official product line, thereby undermining the company’s reputation and market share.
Disney has a long record of aggressively defending its intellectual property, especially when it believes that public confusion may damage the integrity of its brand. From small Etsy sellers to major corporations, the entertainment giant has routinely pursued legal action when its characters are used without proper licensing.
Seeking an Injunction and Market Deterrence
As part of the lawsuit, Disney is seeking a permanent injunction that would bar Red Earth from marketing, distributing, or profiting from any products using the Mickey Mouse likeness. While the exact amount of financial damages sought has not been disclosed, the company is expected to argue for compensation based on lost profits and brand dilution.
The lawsuit underscores Disney’s broader strategy of protecting its most iconic intellectual properties in an era where digital content and e-commerce have made it easier for companies to operate across borders. Red Earth, which ships products worldwide under the Satéur name, primarily markets through social media ads and online retailers. Its jewelry is often promoted using phrases like “vintage Disney” or “inspired by Mickey,” further blurring the line between homage and infringement.
As of now, Red Earth Group has not issued a public statement in response to the legal filing, nor has it removed the Mickey 1928 Collection from its website. Legal analysts note that the company may argue fair use based on the public domain status of the Steamboat Willie character. However, courts typically give strong weight to trademark protection when commercial branding is involved.
This lawsuit could set an important precedent for how companies navigate the evolving boundaries between public domain access and intellectual property enforcement. For Disney, the case is not just about one jewelry line—it’s about reaffirming control over a character that remains central to its brand identity nearly 100 years after his creation.