Judge rules in favour of makers of R-rated puppet movie

ENTERTAINMENT

Judge sweeps clouds away for makers of R-rated puppet movie

The Associated Press Published Wednesday, May 30, 2018 9:19PM EDT

In this Friday, Jan. 13, 2017, file photo, executive producer Melissa McCarthy speaks at the "Nobodies" panel at Viacom's TV Land portion of the Winter Television Critics Association press tour, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)

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NEW YORK -- A judge in New York has ruled against the makers of "Sesame Street" in a dispute with the distributor of the upcoming Melissa McCarthy movie, "The Happytime Murders."

U.S. District Judge Vernon Broderick ruled Wednesday that distributor STX Productions can continue to use the tagline "No sesame. All street" in promoting the R-rated film, which features Muppet-like puppets in a comedic crime story.

Sesame Workshop sued last week, seeking to end the inclusion of the tagline in promotional materials ahead of the film's Aug. 17 release. The company argued the public would be confused and think the movie was supported by "Sesame Street."

The judge heard oral arguments before issuing his ruling. He says Sesame Workshop didn't demonstrate that moviegoers were confused or that sponsors or parents were complaining.