Judge dismisses Epcot copyright case
By Sean Mussenden | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted November 15, 2004, 7:10 PM EST
A federal judge has dismissed a copyright case alleging that the Walt Disney Co. stole the idea for Epcot.
The case, filed in federal court in Orlando in 2002, accused the company of basing its theme park on "Miniature Worlds," a theme park concept and drawings developed by a now-deceased Air Force veteran, Lt. Col. Robert Jaffray, and Mark E. Waters, a Navy Veteran and artist.
The suit was brought by Waters' estate.
U.S. District Judge Patricia C. Fawsett, in dismissing the suit late Friday, said though there were letters showing Jaffray had discussed his ideas with Disney executives in the 1960s, there was "no admissible evidence" that he had ever shared the Miniature Worlds paintings as part of those correspondences. And, she wrote, that the drawings Waters prepared were not "strikingly similar" to renderings for Epcot.
"While the Epcot renderings and Miniature Worlds paintings contain similar ideas, both works express these ideas dissimilarly," she wrote.
"We have always believed that this case had no merit," said Disney spokesman Bill Warren.
John Stemberger, an attorney for Waters' estate, said the family was disappointed by the ruling. He said his legal team planned to meet today to discuss a possible appeal.
"It's unfortunate we will not have the opportunity to show the jury the images, because the paintings speak for themselves," he said.
By Sean Mussenden | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted November 15, 2004, 7:10 PM EST
A federal judge has dismissed a copyright case alleging that the Walt Disney Co. stole the idea for Epcot.
The case, filed in federal court in Orlando in 2002, accused the company of basing its theme park on "Miniature Worlds," a theme park concept and drawings developed by a now-deceased Air Force veteran, Lt. Col. Robert Jaffray, and Mark E. Waters, a Navy Veteran and artist.
The suit was brought by Waters' estate.
U.S. District Judge Patricia C. Fawsett, in dismissing the suit late Friday, said though there were letters showing Jaffray had discussed his ideas with Disney executives in the 1960s, there was "no admissible evidence" that he had ever shared the Miniature Worlds paintings as part of those correspondences. And, she wrote, that the drawings Waters prepared were not "strikingly similar" to renderings for Epcot.
"While the Epcot renderings and Miniature Worlds paintings contain similar ideas, both works express these ideas dissimilarly," she wrote.
"We have always believed that this case had no merit," said Disney spokesman Bill Warren.
John Stemberger, an attorney for Waters' estate, said the family was disappointed by the ruling. He said his legal team planned to meet today to discuss a possible appeal.
"It's unfortunate we will not have the opportunity to show the jury the images, because the paintings speak for themselves," he said.
