Intellectual Property
Dec. 22, 2023
'Beauty and the Beast' infringed copyright, but not by much, jury finds
"Walt Disney Pictures appreciates the jury's careful attention to this complex case and is gratified that the jury properly rejected Rearden's request for $38 million in profits from 'Beauty and the Beast,'" a Disney representative wrote.
The Walt Disney Co. infringed the copyright of Rearden LLC, which created a facial motion capture technology that was used in several Disney films, including the 2017 live action "Beauty and the Beast," a jury found Thursday, awarding Rearden almost $600,000.
The award is much lower than what Rearden -- represented by Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP -- asked for: $38 million. Of the $600,000, more than $250,000 is in actual damages. Less than $350,000 was the portion of ...