Diana vs. Disney: Couture Copyright Showdown Ends in Confetti and Tears
In what critics are calling “Project Runway: Royal Indictment Edition,” the epic courtroom drama between the estate of Princess Diana and the Walt Disney Company came to a dramatic close yesterday as Judge Petunia Goldblazer declared both sides guilty—of being too fabulous.
The courtroom climaxed when a live confetti cannon, mistakenly fired by an overeager Elsa cosplayer, showered the judge during closing arguments. “Order! I said order! Not glitter!” she exclaimed, as the jury broke into synchronized clapping to the Frozen soundtrack.
Legal analysts say Disney’s defense rested on the doctrine of “Fairy Use,” claiming that Princess Di was merely a “living myth” and therefore fair game. The Diana estate countered with original sketches of Belle, dated 1991, scribbled over with notes like “Needs more shy sadness, less medieval wench.”
Fashion houses weighed in too. Chanel issued a press release stating: “We always knew our designs were magical, but we didn’t know they were Mouse House material.”
In the end, damages were awarded in the form of exclusive licensing rights to future tiara-based animations and an apology letter written in cursive by Cinderella herself, now re-employed as an in-house paralegal.