Britain’s most polite bear has found himself in the middle of an uncharacteristically grubby legal brawl. Spitting Image writer/comedians Al Murray and Matt Forde are being sued by StudioCanal – the company behind the recent Paddington films – over their portrayal of the beloved character as a foul-mouthed, drug-snorting co-host of a satirical podcast on YouTube.
The comedians call it an attack on free expression; StudioCanal calls it intellectual property infringement. Since the case made headlines, Spitting Image has doubled down – releasing another video featuring a now coatless and hatless bear still up to no good. It’s a sharp reminder that in today’s media landscape, the line between protected property and satire has never been thinner – or more fiercely contested.
