[Oliver_W]

Disney refuses to let grieving dad put Spider-Man image on four-year-old son’s grave to preserve character’s ‘innocence’

Ollie Jones, who died from a rare genetic disease, was Spider-Man mad and his dad Lloyd, 36, wanted to honour his son’s memory.



Mr Jones, from Maidstone, Kent, had wanted to put an etching of the superhero on his son’s gravestone but the huge US corporation, which posted revenues of £47.2billion in 2018, has refused permission.



The film giant said it wanted to preserve Spider-Man’s “innocence”.

Mr Jones initially approached Maidstone Council about the etching but was told he would have to contact the copyright owners - which ultimately led to Disney denying his request.

Mr Jones said Disney did not want its characters associated with death.

A representative from The Walt Disney Company’s permissions department wrote: “We extend our sincere condolences. If we played a small part in Ollie’s happiness we are honoured.

“Generations of fans have responded to our characters with the same wonder and delight that Ollie did. In fact, many believe the characters to be real.

“We have striven to preserve the same innocence and magic around our characters that brought Ollie such joy.

“For that reason, we follow a policy that began with Walt Disney himself that does not permit the use of characters on headstones, cemetery or other memorial markers or funeral urns."

The father of six said: “I really wasn’t expecting this – it’s another massive blow. I felt sure they would allow it.”

He added: "I think this is all about money. Ollie's last holiday was at Disneyland. He loved Spider-Man and we had bought him all the toys.

"But now he has died and we won't be spending any more money, they don't care."

Ollie died in December last year from genetic disorder leukodystrophy, which affects the brain and nervous system.

His six-year-old sister Laillah also suffers from the same disorder.

Ollie’s funeral procession in Maidstone, Kent, was led by someone dressed as Spider-Man and the character was on his coffin, too.

Uncle Jason Jones, 37, said: “This meant everything to us. My brother’s life has been shattered, it has shattered the whole family.

“We can’t move on until we have his headstone done – Spider-Man was Ollie’s entire life. He loved it so much.

“I didn’t expect it to be an issue – my funeral director, who’s also my friend called me and told me they can’t do it. I thought he was joking at first.

“We understand copyright but I don’t see why Marvel would have any issues with this.”

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/944145...e-ollie-jones/

Stan Lee and Walt would be ashamed.

[arista]

Its a Hard Corporation.

[Withano]

They own Spider-Man but they don’t own red faces with vertical and horizontal lines on it. The grieving dad should get a bit creative I think.

[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/944145...e-ollie-jones/

Stan Lee and Walt would be ashamed.

Miserable barstewerts

[Jessica.]

I think it's fair, tbh, a spiderman themed grave stone is a bit out there. He could put some kind of spiderman trinket at the grave.

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

Scum!

[Wizard.]

And what if he did it anyway? Surely they wouldn't rip it up, and taking legal action would hurt their image further. I would do it.c

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by Wizard.

And what if he did it anyway? Surely they wouldn't rip it up, and taking legal action would hurt their image further. I would do it.c

Local council would probably remove it themselves, heartless bastardos.

Their best option is probably to buy some sort of official merchandise that's weather-proof and then affix it to the base of the headstone themselves.

[Vicky.]

A bit harsh..it wont affect them (or their revenue) in any ****ing way so I cannot see any real reason for refusal.

As if having a kids headstone with his favourite character threatens spidermans 'innocence'

[Cherie]

"preserve spidermans innocence? given he could cover the grave with merchandise that seems a bit of an odd excuse

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by Cherie

"preserve spidermans innocence? given he could cover the grave with merchandise that seems a bit of an odd excuse

Exactly; toys and other merchandise on children's headstones is a pretty common occurrence... the "not wanting to be associated with death" excuse seems more than a little suspect.

IMO the real reason is that they don't want actual themed headstones to become "a trend".

[bots]

it's obviously a corporate response rather than an personal one. Heartless

[Vicky.]

Maybe, but I dn't really get why it would affect disney if themed headstones DID become a trend tbh. They could start selling headstones...or chaging for the right to have a character ( ) on a kids headstone, another revenue stream for them

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Maybe, but I dn't really get why it would affect disney if themed headstones DID become a trend tbh. They could start selling headstones...or chaging for the right to have a character ( ) on a kids headstone, another revenue stream for them

That's the problem, though... they wouldn't want to sell them or charge for the image rights because obviously the press would be all over that ("Disney profiting from childrens deaths") so it would always be 3rd parties. You'd think for something like this they'd make an exception, though. THANKFULLY it's only a small percentage of headstones that are for children, and many people will still opt for traditional headstones, it's not like they're going to be appearing everywhere.

[Tom4784]

A heartless and idiotic move by Disney that will inevitably blow up in their face if this story gets bigger. Whoever made this decision should get sacked for being dumb and risking a huge PR backlash for nothing.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

That's the problem, though... they wouldn't want to sell them or charge for the image rights because obviously the press would be all over that ("Disney profiting from childrens deaths") so it would always be 3rd parties. You'd think for something like this they'd make an exception, though. THANKFULLY it's only a small percentage of headstones that are for children, and many people will still opt for traditional headstones, it's not like they're going to be appearing everywhere.

Yeah I know, second bit was a bit glib, considering the topic.

Just a really awful decision in general, with no reasoning that stands up to scrutiny.

Edit. Oh, missed the bit about they don't allow their products on urns either..how ridiculous..urns are something that the family keep in their house, not something public!

[Northern Monkey]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Local council would probably remove it themselves, heartless bastardos.

Their best option is probably to buy some sort of official merchandise that's weather-proof and then affix it to the base of the headstone themselves.

Exactly what i thought.

Heartless bastards.

[arista]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

A heartless and idiotic move by Disney that will inevitably blow up in their face if this story gets bigger. Whoever made this decision should get sacked for being dumb and risking a huge PR backlash for nothing.

Its their ©
maybe he should have asked permission first.

[bots]

Originally Posted by arista

Its their ©
maybe he should have asked permission first.

he did

[arista]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

he did

Well then he is stuck
sadly

[Ammi]

...as much as the headstone wasn’t allowed, I did think their words to his family were lovely and very caring...as was the offer to commemorate one of their treasured fans...RIP Ollie Jones....


“Although we cannot grant the family’s request, we would be pleased to commemorate your nephew with a hand-inked, hand-painted, personalised celluloid that recognises his love for Spider-Man, which will read: ‘For your _______ (nephew’s name), Thank you for letting us share in the magic of your life. Your friends at the Walt Disney Company.

“We feel privileged to have had him as a fan.’”

[iRyan]

Vile and heartless

[Cal.]

I swear I’ve seen Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs gravestones before

Maybe that is just the family doing it themselves

Seems heartless. I saw a child’s coffin on Twitter the other day decorated with Paw Patrol characters.