Battle on for Winnie the Pooh ownership rights

Affable children’s character Winnie the Pooh has found himself at the centre of a legal battle as a film company takes on Disney for ownership rights to the bear and his friends.

In the latest move in a long struggle with Walt Disney over the rights to AA Milne’s popular character, Stephen Slesinger Inc has petitioned the US Patent Office to cancel Disney’s trademark registrations over the 80-year-old bear and other characters.