Hell's Angels rumble with Disney

Motorcycle club sues film studio for infringing on its trademark in 'Wild Hogs' movie.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - The Hell's Angels Motorcycle Corp. is suing a division of Walt Disney, Buena Vista Motion Pictures and a film production company for infringing on its trademark in the development and production of "Wild Hogs," a comedy about middle-aged bikers.

The motorcycle club says in the suit that it never approved Walt Disney Motion Picture Group's use of its trademark, and that the film studio has repeatedly exploited the Hell's Angels name as well as its trademark design featuring a helmeted, horned and feathered skull while publicizing the "Wild Hogs" movie.

Disney (Research) and Tollin/Robbins Productions have repeatedly referred to "Wild Hogs" as a movie about a "group of middle-aged wannabe bikers look(ing) for adventure out on the open road, where they soon encounter a chapter of the Hell's Angels," according to the suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

"We believe the suit is without merit," Disney spokesman David Caouette said.

Tim Allen, John Travolta and Martin Lawrence are slated to star in the film, which is expected to start production in late spring.

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