by The court ruled that Mustang Eleanor is not a “character”
For many years, the director’s widow, Denise Halicki, tried to protect the copyright of the Mustang Eleanor’s image from the film, claiming that the car was a “character.” However, the appellate court ultimately rejected these claims. The judges noted that Eleanor does not have distinctly pronounced characteristic features, the car’s appearance changed in different films, and it is not as unique as, for example, the Batmobile.
The judge in their decisive statement declared:
“The plaintiffs’ arguments got stuck at the starting line: we believe that Eleanor is not a character, let alone one subject to copyright.”
This decision is a victory for Shelby, which now has more freedom in creating similar cars.
What this decision means for car enthusiasts
Now enthusiasts can build replicas of the iconic Mustang without fear of lawsuits. However, given that the case reached the appellate court, there is a possibility that Halicki may continue attempts to protect her rights in other ways. This legal battle lasted over twenty years, and its conclusion will be a relief for many fans of American muscle cars.
Interestingly, the judges drew a clear line between character cars (as in Pixar cartoons) and ordinary movie cars. Eleanor, in their opinion, was merely a prop, despite its name and role in the plot. This sets an important precedent for future disputes over copyright for car images in films.
