Disney decides not to fine a school for showing one of its movies at a fundraiser after all.
Well, crikey. Straight from the department of ‘well, that’s not a good look’, Disney has reversed a fine that was sent to an American primary school. Its crime? It’d screened The Lion King as part of a fundraising drive, and found itself the wrong side of a $250 fine from Disney’s licensing company. The fundraiser itself had raised $800.
The school – Emerson Elementary School – took to social media to appeal for help in paying the fine.
By the letter of the law, Disney is right. When you buy a DVD or equivalent, you get a licence rather than own the film. And that license prohibits any kind of public showing. But still, Disney raking in billions of dollars a quarter fining a school trying to raise funds?
Common sense prevailed here, and Disney CEO Bob Iger intervened, and apologised. Here’s his Tweet…
Quite how Disney discovered the school was playing the film in the first place, and quite why it decided to go straight for a fine, is unclear. The school for its part was unaware it breaking any rules. The Lion King is, er, available on disc now.
Variety
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