04/02/2026
Originally published by Total Licensing.
Step 1: Grab Your Popcorn.
Step 2: Watch Zootropolis 2 (small spoiler below).
Step 3: Read this article and consider the Intellectual Property!
Zootropolis 2 (also called Zootopia 2 in some regions) is a Disney animation which tells the story of two detectives, Judy Hopps (an optimistic bunny) and Nick Wilde (a sly but soft-hearted fox). Released in the UK on 28 November 2025, the film didn’t just hop onto screens; it leapt into the record books with a staggering $556.4m (£420m) global opening weekend, the highest global opening for any animated film[1].
Whilst most fans are captivated by its colourful cityscapes, witty dialogue, fast-paced detective drama and Shakira headliner, there’s a whole other story bubbling beneath the surface; one about intellectual property (IP).
Welcome to the side of Zootropolis 2 you didn’t know you needed.
Trade Marks – why the movie has a different name depending on where you view it
If you’ve ever felt confused about whether you’re watching Zootopia or Zootropolis, you’re not alone. This name-change is actually a great example of how trade marks shape the entertainment world.
In the US, Disney Enterprises applied for registration of their Zootopia trade mark in October 2013. Zootopia was subsequently registered in the US in 2016.
However, in the UK and Europe, Zootopia was, and is still, a registered trade mark owned by Givskud, a Danish Zoo. Zootopia is registered for goods and services including clothing, toys, education and entertainment, scientific services, and food/hospitality. It dates back to February 2010 and is still used by the zoo today.
Registered trade mark rights are territorial, and the mark Zootopia was already registered in the UK and Europe. Had Disney used the original name in Europe, there would have been a potential trade mark clash. We understand this is why the film was renamed Zootropolis when releasing it to certain markets including the UK. Disney were not in a position to remove the existing trade mark rights. The film was renamed a third time as Zoomania in Germany, seemingly because of the similarity between Zootropolis and the German children’s book Zootopolis. Disney applied for the Zootropolis trade mark in the UK and Europe only two days after applying for Zootopia in the US, so maybe this name change was always part of the plan.
Patents – A Star of the Sequel
The IP doesn’t stop at trade marks. Zootropolis 2 brings patents into the spotlight via a key plotline involving a missing patent for Zootopia’s “weather walls”, combined with a dramatic ‘entitlement issue’.
However, cinematic storytelling doesn’t always reflect real-world patent law. In our world, these basic patent facts aren’t necessarily key to a movie storyline:
- Generally, a patent lasts for 20 years, from the date of filing – Don’t be fooled by the age of the patent in Zootropolis!
- To keep a patent in force, in most countries, you must pay renewal fees.
- Entitlement to ownership of patent rights in an invention generally starts with the inventor(s).
- Patents are negative rights, meaning that they allow you to stop others from making or using your invention; they don’t necessarily give you the right to use it yourself.
That said, it’s refreshing to see a blockbuster film highlighting just how valuable patents can be. Behind every invention, from climate-controlling walls in a Disney world to everyday gadgets in the real world, there’s a patent system protecting innovation.
Copyright – A Flashback to the 2017 Dispute
No discussion of Zootropolis’ IP history would be complete without the 2017 copyright dispute. Screenwriter Gary L. Goldman alleged that Disney had copied his concepts, themes, plot ideas, characters, and even dialogue. However, the US court found that focusing only on the protectable elements of Goldman’s expression, there was insufficient similarity between Goldman and Disney’s work. This highlights an important principle that, in copyright infringement cases, sufficient similarity between the infringing work and the copyright work is key.
Overall, Zootropolis 2 highlights the importance of different types of IP. It should encourage us to think about appropriate IP protections and how the territories in which those protections could be obtained may require a multi-faceted strategy.
This article is for general information only. Its content is not a statement of the law on any subject and does not constitute advice. Please contact Reddie & Grose LLP for advice before taking any action in reliance on it.
[1] Why is Zootropolis 2 so popular after raking in sensational £420,000,000 box office record? | Metro News
