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Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck summonsed to Italian court
5th December 2007, 8:00 WST
Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck will finally get their day in court if summons served by judicial authorities in Italy are to be believed.
In what appears to be a “bizarre” bureaucratic blunder the Disney cartoon characters have been named as witnesses in the trial of a Chinese man accused of peddling counterfeit toys and decals bearing the images of the pair.
Signor Topolino (Mickey Mouse) and Signor Paperino (Donald Duck) “are kindly instructed to appear before the Naples Tribunal on December 7,” reads a copy of the summons, obtained by Milan-based daily Corriere della Sera and published today.
The summons originally compiled by officials in Naples was later reproduced by a Milan judicial office and delivered to lawyers representing the US-based Walt Disney company, owner of the trademarks for the cartoon characters.
Corriere dell Sera, Italy’s most respected newspaper, denounced the error as emblematic of Italy’s justice system where delays - which it says are caused by lack of proper staffing and other resources - often result in cases being dismissed on technicalities.
Judicial authorities were not immediately available for comment but Corriere della Sera suggested it was “unlikely” that the star witnesses would show up in court.
MILAN
Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck summonsed to Italian court
5th December 2007, 8:00 WST
Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck will finally get their day in court if summons served by judicial authorities in Italy are to be believed.
In what appears to be a “bizarre” bureaucratic blunder the Disney cartoon characters have been named as witnesses in the trial of a Chinese man accused of peddling counterfeit toys and decals bearing the images of the pair.
Signor Topolino (Mickey Mouse) and Signor Paperino (Donald Duck) “are kindly instructed to appear before the Naples Tribunal on December 7,” reads a copy of the summons, obtained by Milan-based daily Corriere della Sera and published today.
The summons originally compiled by officials in Naples was later reproduced by a Milan judicial office and delivered to lawyers representing the US-based Walt Disney company, owner of the trademarks for the cartoon characters.
Corriere dell Sera, Italy’s most respected newspaper, denounced the error as emblematic of Italy’s justice system where delays - which it says are caused by lack of proper staffing and other resources - often result in cases being dismissed on technicalities.
Judicial authorities were not immediately available for comment but Corriere della Sera suggested it was “unlikely” that the star witnesses would show up in court.
MILAN
The good part is that in Italy's legal system this case will be postponed to Saint-Never's Day. I really wished today was April Fools Day.
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