Wilt Dasney
Well-Known Member
Was, actually. The deal between Disney and the school just ended...or is due to end soon, I forget which. I always thought it was cool having Donald as a college mascot.
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Donald Duck’s middle name
- Thread starter zurgandfriend
- Start date
Phonedave
Well-Known Member
I thought it was a handshake thing between Walt and the then President of the School.
The school bailed him out for something. Letting him have a production studio, or an editing suite, or something like that, on short notice when he really needed one. In exchange he said that they could used Donald Duck as their mascot, royalty free, forever. They shook on it, and the agreement has been honored ever since. I did not think it had an expiration date.
-dave
Wilt Dasney
Well-Known Member
As I indicated earlier, I was fuzzy on the details, so I dug a little further. From Wikipedia:
"Beginning in 1940, cartoon drawings of Puddles in student publications began to resemble Donald Duck, and by 1947, Walt Disney was aware of the issue. Capitalizing on his friendship with a Disney cartoonist, Oregon athletic director Leo Harris met Disney and reached an informal handshake agreement that granted the University of Oregon permission to use Donald as its sports mascot. When Disney lawyers later questioned the agreement in the 1970s, the University produced a photo showing Harris and Disney wearing matching jackets with an Oregon Donald logo.[2] Relying on the photo as evidence of Disney's wishes, in 1973, both parties signed a formal agreement granting the university the right to use Donald's likeness as a symbol for (and restricted to) Oregon sports.[1] The agreement gave Disney control over where the mascot could perform and ensured that the performer inside the costume would "properly represent the Donald Duck character."[3]
In 2010, Disney and the University reached an agreement that removed the costumed Oregon Duck mascot from its association with the Donald trademark and allows The Duck to make more public appearances, such as at college mascot competitions.[3] The mascot in graphic art, which is more similar to Donald Duck than the rounder head and body of the costume, is still covered by the trademark agreement.[3]"
In summary, it sounds like we're all a little right and wrong on the issue. Walt seems to have reached an informal agreement with the school that was later formalized after his death. As of now, the costumed duck is no longer associated with Disney, but the duck as represented in graphic logos is.
unkadug
Follower of "Saget"The Cult
tink65
Active Member
Me too! I still use that glass! One year we did the animation drawing at Disney Studios and the artist asked if anyone knew Donald Ducks milddle name? My DH said Fauntleroy....The cast member was very surprised someone actually knew!:lol:
sweetpee_1993
Well-Known Member
So now my hubby wants to know what Mickey's middle name is. Lol!
rsoxguy
Well-Known Member
Moneybags