The Lion not that sleepy anymore

PRETORIA -- Disney Enterprises Inc. filed an urgent court application yesterday to prevent its trademarks from being sold off in South Africa if a poor family that says it lost millions in royalties from the hit song The Lion Sleeps Tonight wins its lawsuit against the American entertainment giant.

Lawyers acting for the family of the late musician Solomon Linda, who penned the original song Mbube in 1939, obtained a court order in July attaching more than 240 trademarks registered in South Africa to their $1.6-million (U.S.) suit in order to establish local jurisdiction.

The trademarks, which include well-known images such as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, could be sold locally to pay Linda's heirs if they win their lawsuit.

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