Despite his glorious past, Mickey’s journey to Abu Dhabi wasn’t free of tumult. As a symbol of American consumer culture, he has been frequently parodied and assaulted by those dissatisfied with American political-economic hegemony. Opposition regimes during World War II banned Mickey Mouse from display, along with other symbols of American culture, while others have co-opted the anthropomorphic mouse for their own political ends, including in the anti-war 1969 cartoon Mickey Mouse In Vietnam. Walt Disney corporation has vigorously defended Mickey from such unauthorized usage, most famously with the 1971 case Walt Disney Productions v. Air Pirates, which resulted in the creators of a pornographic Mickey parody being forced to pay $1.9 million in damages. Indeed, Disney’s heavily lobbying for the 1998 Copyright Term Extension Act caused that act to be called the “Mickey Mouse Protection Act.” Thanks to that act, along with vigorous legal wrangling, Disney holds both the trademark and copyright on Mickey Mouse until at least 2023. Disney’s willingness to enforce those rights, even against small private displays, ensures that the frequent worldwide merchandising of Mickey Mouse is authorized and entails significant payments to Disney.