American counterculture takes on the mainstream today as the Hells Angels announce that they're going after Disney.
But what was Uncle Walt doing with those tough motorcycle boys, anyway? It seems Disney are due to begin shooting in spring on a film starring John Travolta and Tim Allen as middle-aged wannabe bikers who get into a spot of bother with some Hells Angels on the open road.
And it turns out that the legendary Californian motorcycle club is hopping mad. Those Hells Angels must sure mean business. Cue knuckledusters, knives and some extremely loud music, right?
Wrong. The Angels do mean business, but not quite in the way you might think. They are, in fact, a business: the Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporation (HAMC) has filed a lawsuit against Walt Disney for infringing on their name and trademark logo in pre-publicity for the film. Forget the knuckledusters - it's time for the lawyers.
Not only did Disney not ask the Angels if they could use their distinctive helmet and skull, they allege, but they also failed to provide the club with a copy of the screenplay. Being a toughened biker doesn't mean you haven't got a sensitive, actorly side, it seems.
So who's going to start suing next? Should Clint Eastwood prepare himself for the attentions of a certain firearms manufacturer? Should Agatha Christie's estate be worried about a transcontinental passenger service? Or will that nice Dan Brown find himself in court over something or other ...?
