Disney lawyers are likely to be feeling a mixture of anger, sadness, and disgust after a copyright lawsuit concerning Pixar’s Inside Out was greenlit by a Canadian court. Following a successful appeal, filmmaker Damon Pourshian can now pursue his case against seven Disney subsidiaries in Ontario.
As a student at Sheridan College around 2000, Pourshian wrote and oversaw the production of a 14-minute live-action film also called Inside Out, which won a People’s Choice Award at an annual showcase. In the film, a boy’s personality is controlled by five of his internal organs, which come to life. Watch it below:
Pourshian claims that Pixar’s Oscar-winning 2015 feature, in which a girl’s emotions are embodied as colorful sprites, ripped off his concept and title, as well as many narrative details. He wants the court to recognize his copyright for his short film, and is seeking an injunction, damages, and for his name to be added to the credits.
