Disney Claims Intellectual Property Rights to
“Throw Me Something Mister,” Sues Gentilly Couple
for 67 Carnivals of Unpaid Royalties

POYDRAS STREET — For many years, Carnival-goers shouted a signature phrase to passing floats in hopes of attracting throws. All that revelry may end soon, however, due to a potentially precedent-setting lawsuit filed today in U.S. Eastern District Court in downtown New Orleans.

Disney Corporation today announced the filing of a multi-billion dollar lawsuit against William “Bill” Marchese and his wife, Pootie, both 78, of Gentilly. The Company claims the couple have infringed on their intellectual property rights every year since 1943 by shouting the phrase “Throw Me Something Mister” at parades.

Disney has sent the couple a “cease and desist” letter and has filed for millions in damages. They are seeking to join the couple’s neighbors, The Tapintos, also in their 70s, as co-defendants.

The letter reads, in part:

“The phrase ‘Throw my something [Mister]‘ (hereafter: “the phrase”) represents the creativity and hard work of persons long-employed by the Disney company, who has included the phrase in its scripted Theme Park parade experiences since 1982.

“As such, the Disney corporation reserves the right to determine who employs the phrase, when the phrase is employed, and for what purpose.”

As to why these couples were targeted as part of Disney’s legal effort is unclear. A Disney spokesperson familiar with the matter said simply:

“While there are many instances of the phrase’s unauthorized usage, we know that these individuals have been recklessly throwing this phrase around for years without any consideration for those who invented and cultivated it.”

When reached on the porch of his home, Mr. Marchese, a retired phone company employee, said simply: “They crazy.”

Anna Williamson, spokesperson for the Mayor’s tourism office, called the suit “absurd” and “opportunistic.”

Mr. Tapinto, the couple’s neighbor, simply replied “[Expletive] those guys.”

Similarly, Tina Finch, of Willkes Barre, PA, seen exposing herself at the Mystic Krewe of Perseus parade, said that she felt the suit was “random” but that, “whatever, there are other ways of getting beads, you know?”