The Portland Pickles Sue Disney Over ‘Win or Lose’ Trademark Dispute
Last February, Pixar’s long-awaited Win or Lose finally debuted on Disney+.
The first Pixar original streaming series, told through the perspectives of eight different characters, tells the story of the Pickles, a co-ed middle school softball team, and the events leading up to their championship game.
Photo: Pixar
While critics and fans alike raved about Win or Lose, praising its visuals, unique story structure, and eclectic cast of characters, one entity was not thrilled with the series—the Portland Pickles.
The Portland Pickles’ Trademark
As we reported in February, the Portland Pickles, an Oregon summer league baseball team, accused Disney and Pixar of violating their trademarks without permission.
Sportslogos.net
The team even asserted that Disney had broken the heart of Dillon T. Pickle, their viral mascot.
“We regret to inform you that Dillon T. Pickle is absolutely devastated by the release of this series,” the Pickles said via a social media statement.
“He looked up to Disney, believed in the magic, and truly thought they stood for joy. But not a call, not an email, nor even a half-hearted fax. No DM, no Snap, no carrier pigeon with a tiny scroll asking for permission to use our marks, or collaborate.”
Photo: Brewball
At the time of our last update, the Pickles had not taken any legal action against Disney, the team’s owner, Alan Miller, however, indicated that a lawsuit could be in order.
On Wednesday, the long-gestating lawsuit finally arrived.
The Pickles Play Hardball
According to a new report from Newsweek, the Oregon Pickles are suing The Walt Disney Company for the unauthorized use of their trademarked logos.
Photo: Pixar
“As explained in the lawsuit recently filed against Disney, the Portland Pickles are taking action to eliminate confusion in the marketplace caused by unauthorized use of our trademarked logos on merchandise,” the team said in a statement.
“Fueled by incredible support from our fans and community members from all walks of life, we felt we had no choice but to protect our rights—not just for ourselves, but on behalf of the little guy. We may not have limitless resources, but we have something equally powerful: an unwavering belief in defending what we’ve created and a determination to prevent our creative marks from being exploited without consequence.”
Photo: Miriam-Webster
The Pickles are seeking unspecified damages and an injunction banning Disney from using their name in both Win or Lose and merchandise.
