U.S. scolds North Korea for unauthorized Disney show

Mickey and Minnie have a chat on left as North Korea's new Moranbong band performs in Pyongyang, North Korea, Friday, July 6, 2012. / AP Photo/Korean Central News Agency via Korea News Service

(AP) WASHINGTON - The U.S. is urging North Korea to respect intellectual property rights after an unauthorized stage performance of Disney characters at a concert for the reclusive country's new young leader.

But State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said Tuesday that since Washington does not have diplomatic relations with Pyongyang it could not raise the issue as it would in other countries.

Watch: What's next in North Korea?

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center right, and others clap as they watch performance by North Korea's new Moranbong band in Pyongyang, North Korea, Friday, July 6, 2012.

/ AP Photo/Korean Central News Agency via Korea News Service

He broadly urged North Korea to meet its international obligations.

North Korean state TV this week showed performers dressed as Minnie Mouse, Tigger and other characters dancing against a backdrop of footage from Disney movies, an unusual departure for the isolated nation. New leader Kim Jong Un has sought to project an image of youth and modernity.

The Walt Disney Co. says it did not authorize the performance.

[Ulgnud]

News Flash. The US has no authority over another Sovereign nation. Same as other nations have no authority over the Sovereign USA. If there are any intellectual property laws or agreements with North Korea then Disney needs to file a suit there. Like it will do any good.

[knewsteerrrrr]

Who CARES?? this is Disney's problem and has nothing to do with the United States, copyrights are a CIVIL LAW matter, it's up to Disney to file a lawsuit or whatever.

[OnTheRoad01]

Well, I bet after being scolded by the U.S. of A. they won't ever do that again!!!!

[davcor2]

It's curiously strange that the audience is made up of all older adults and that the real children of North Korea that would have enjoyed this, have no television. Eventually it will end up being a curious steady of a civilization so isolated from a modern world that anthropologists will be crawling over themselves to study this rare phenomenon.

[waynenipper]

He broadly urged North Korea to meet its international obligations.
What a stupid thing to say ... like N. Korea really gives a sh++.

[hypnotoad72]

My previous sardonic post not withstanding, what N Korea is doing is a real slap in the face.

Granted, Disney is ran by a bunch of people I'd probably never want to have a beer with or anything, but even I have to side with Disney's lot on this.

[hypnotoad72]

Give 'em some jobs next.

I mean, the king of all anti-piracy droolers, Microsoft, responded to China's 90%+ piracy problem by opening up shop there, reducing prices of their software to $3 (while we still pay full price), etc:

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/07/23/100134488/

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/security/does-microsofts-sharing-of-source-code-with-china-and-russia-pose-a-security-risk/6789

Apparently so...


http://www.zdnet.com/blog/security/richard-clarke-china-has-hacked-every-major-us-company/11125?tag=content;siu-container

Isn't globalization grand?

[formerlyluvnut]

LMAO!