Disney and Universal sue AI firm Midjourney for copyright infringement
Read full article: Disney and Universal sue AI firm Midjourney for copyright infringementDisney and Universal sued popular artificial intelligence image-generator Midjourney on Wednesday, marking the first time major Hollywood companies have taken legal action against a maker of generative AI technology that could upend the entertainment industry.
SAG-AFTRA files unfair labor practice charge over use of AI to make Darth Vader's voice in Fortnite
Read full article: SAG-AFTRA files unfair labor practice charge over use of AI to make Darth Vader's voice in FortniteHollywood’s actors’ union filed an unfair labor practice charge against Llama Productions on Monday, alleging the company replaced actors’ work by using artificial intelligence to generate Darth Vader’s voice in Fortnite without notice.
Wall Street's rally roars into a 3rd day as companies' profits keep piling up, for now at least
Read full article: Wall Street's rally roars into a 3rd day as companies' profits keep piling up, for now at leastU.S. stocks rallied further as better-than-expected profits for U.S. companies piled up, though CEOs say they’re unsure whether it will last because of uncertainty created by President Donald Trump’s trade war.
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Peppa Pig theme park set for Legoland Florida Resort in 2022
Read full article: Peppa Pig theme park set for Legoland Florida Resort in 2022(AP Photo/John Raoux, File)WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – A standalone Peppa Pig theme park is set to open next year at the Legoland Florida Resort, park officials announced Thursday. The new park, based on the popular preschool animated television series, will be located near the main Legoland theme park, but will be separately ticketed, according to a news release. Annual passes to the Peppa Pig theme park will be available as standalone memberships or multi-park passes that include the Legoland theme park and water park. The Peppa Pig theme park will feature rides, interactive attractions, themed playscapes, water play areas and live shows, officials said. The Peppa Pig theme park will be operated under a licensing agreement with Hasbro, which owns the character.
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Hasbro dropping the ‘Mister’ from Mr. Potato Head, making toy gender neutral
Read full article: Hasbro dropping the ‘Mister’ from Mr. Potato Head, making toy gender neutralPotato Head is no longer a mister. Hasbro, the company that makes the potato-shaped plastic toy, is giving the spud a gender neutral new name: Potato Head. Potato Head characters will still live on and be sold in stores. “While it was announced today that the POTATO HEAD brand name & logo are dropping the ‘MR.’ I yam proud to confirm that MR. & MRS. POTATO HEAD aren’t going anywhere and will remain MR. & MRS.
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Lego to ditch plastic bags for paper ones in its boxed sets
Read full article: Lego to ditch plastic bags for paper ones in its boxed setsNEW YORK – Lego said Tuesday that it will stop using plastic bags inside its boxed sets and replace them with paper ones. The Danish toymaker said it will start making the switch next year and expects plastic bags to be completely phased out in the next five years. The bags are used to hold loose bricks in boxed sets. About 2% of its pieces, such as Lego trees and bushes, are made of sugar cane,Lego said kids wrote the company asking it to drop the plastic bags. The paper bags, which are recyclable, are easier for kids to open, the company said.
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Two Super Soakers recalled due to lead ink
Read full article: Two Super Soakers recalled due to lead inkROANOKE, Va. – There’s nothing like beating the summer heat with some water blasters, but you may want to check what kind you have first. On Wednesday, Hasbro announced a recall for two types of Super Soakers sold exclusively at Target due to lead contamination. The Super Soaker XP 20 and Super Soaker XP 30 both have a decorative sticker on the water tank that contains lead in the ink. Each sticker contains ink levels that exceed the federal lead content ban, according to Hasbro. The company asks that anyone who has either water blaster get rid of them and contact Hasbro for instructions on a refund.
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Trolls doll pulled after complaints it promotes child abuse
Read full article: Trolls doll pulled after complaints it promotes child abusePAWTUCKET, R.I. A Trolls doll is being pulled off store shelves amid complaints it promotes child abuse. Toymaker Hasbro said Wednesday that its in the process of removing the Trolls World Tour Giggle and Sing Poppy from the market and will be offering customers a replacement doll of the popular female character. The doll had been designed to giggle when placed in a sitting position, but some parents complain the sound activation button is inappropriately placed between the dolls legs. An online petition suggests the doll is conditioning our children to think pedophilia is OK.

Toys 'R' Us relaunch gives families something Amazon can't
Read full article: Toys 'R' Us relaunch gives families something Amazon can'tBoth toy companies' success was largely tied to Toys "R" Us prior to the retailer's financial demise and rebirth. The revamped Toys "R" Us will open two streamlined locations ahead of Black Friday in Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus, New Jersey, and The Galleria in Houston. The old Toys "R" Us stores were 40,000-square-foot behemoths with merchandise stacked on endless rows of metal shelves. The revalitized Toys "R" Us website also showcases fewer toys, but gives more details on them. Toys "R" Adventure's first run in Chicago and Atlanta generated national headlines last week as families celebrated the return of the familiar retail brand.

Hasbro hit hard by tariffs just before the holidays
Read full article: Hasbro hit hard by tariffs just before the holidaysJustin Sullivan/Getty Images"The Force" and "Frozen" couldn't save toy maker Hasbro from the US-China trade war. Hasbro added that the company was forced to post higher shipping and warehousing expenses as retailers shifted the timing of their orders as a result of tariffs. Hasbro also reported flat sales growth in the unit that includes toys for younger kids, including Power Rangers, Playskool and Mr. Hasbro and Mattel have bounced back since then and have increased their presence at other top retailers such as Amazon, Walmart and Target. But tariffs could still wind up being the Grinch that steals Christmas sales for both toy companies this holiday season.

In new game of Monopoly, women make more than men
Read full article: In new game of Monopoly, women make more than menMonopoly" version of the popular board game, women are paid more than men. Monopoly, marking the first time in Monopoly history when a new mascot will be featured on the cover of the game. Unlike the classic game, women will collect 240 Monopoly bucks when they pass "go," while male players will collect the usual 200. The idea is to create a game where women make more than men, the first game to do so, according to Hasbro. Monopoly comes a few weeks after the company received criticism for Monopoly Socialism -- a tongue-in-cheek game that sparked debate for its flippant handling of socialism.

Hasbro buys Peppa Pig owner for $4 billion
Read full article: Hasbro buys Peppa Pig owner for $4 billionA child poses with Peppa Pig during GOOD+ Foundation's 2018 NY Bash sponsored by Hearst on May 31, 2018, in New York City. (CNN) - Hasbro is buying the company that owns popular children's cartoon Peppa Pig, expanding its push into entertainment with a bet on preschoolers. The entertainment company, which trades on the London Stock Exchange, also owns the animated brands PJ Masks and Ricky Zoom. The deal will combine those titles with Hasbro's popular brands, including My Little Pony, Transformers, Play-Doh, Monopoly and Power Rangers. Hasbro has sought to recover from the closure of Toys "R" Us, a major partner by striking creative new deals.

San Diego Comic-Con also about collectible exclusives
Read full article: San Diego Comic-Con also about collectible exclusivesVia NECAThe 50th annual San Diego Comic-Con is finally here, beginning with a preview night Wednesday before it kicks into high gear Thursday. Hammonds figure not only features packaging that looks like the gateway to Jurassic Park, it includes a stand that holds a cracked open egg with a baby dinosaur. While some toy and collectibles companies are concentrating on releasing exclusive products of vintage movies, others are concentrating on more modern fare. The San Diego Comic-Con runs through Sunday. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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