February 25, 2025
Warner Bros. Puts Its Foot Down Over Giant Leg Lamp
Above: David Chasanov of the KOKH I-Team does the reporting legwork on Chickasha’s lamp controversy
A case with strong legs: a small Oklahoma foundation faces potential legal battle
In Chickasha, Oklahoma, a towering 40-foot leg — wrapped in fishnet stockings and crowned with a fringed lampshade — has become the unlikely centerpiece of a growing legal dispute. While it might seem like the ultimate tribute to the classic holiday movie, A Christmas Story, Warner Bros. sees something else entirely: a clear-cut case of copyright infringement.
The giant leg lamp in Downtown Depot Park isn’t city property. It’s owned by the Chickasha Community Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to supporting local initiatives with a focus on funding educational and social projects, including the long-term development of a downtown park.
Hollywood’s Legal Hammer Drops
According to reporting from KOKH’s David Chasanov, Warner Bros. has formally demanded the removal and destruction of Chickasha’s leg lamp, citing violations of both copyright and trademark law. Documents obtained by FOX 25 show that the entertainment giant’s legal claims are rooted in the Lanham Act, which protects trademarks from unauthorized use that could confuse consumers or dilute the brand’s value.
This isn’t Warner Bros.’ first brush with the foundation. In 2019, when the Chickasha Community Foundation initially floated the idea of building the lamp, they reached out to Warner Bros. to gauge interest in a possible collaboration. The response? A firm no. Despite this, the foundation went ahead with their plans, creating what has since become an iconic piece of holiday cheer — and a potential legal liability.
Chickasha Foundation Pushes Back
Jim Cowan of the Chickasha Community Foundation told KOKH that, despite Warner Bros.’ aggressive legal posturing, no formal lawsuit has been filed yet. Cowan insists the foundation isn’t profiting unfairly from the display. “It didn’t cost you $20 to come in and see the world’s largest leg lamp,” Cowan said. The only merchandise for sale, he noted, is officially licensed by Warner Bros.—an ironic twist that could, in fact, bolster the company’s infringement claims.
Image from Chickasha Community Foundation website, published under fair use
But intellectual property laws don’t care much about sentiment. They exist to protect creative work — and, let’s be honest, the revenue streams tied to that work. Chickasha’s mistake might not have been building the lamp but profiting, however marginally, from its glow.
A Legal Case with Strong Legs
Here at Inside Lighting, we’ve undergone extensive briefings on copyright and Lanham Act law over the past year as we prepare to pursue our own unrelated litigation. While we’re not legal experts, certain elements of Warner Bros.’ claim appear to carry weight.
First, there’s the documented refusal of licensing rights back in 2019. Add to that the foundation is selling merchandise connected to A Christmas Story, and Warner Bros.’ argument for unjust enrichment starts to look plausible. Even the specific details of the lamp — the black fishnet, the lampshade’s seams, the iconic fringe and the base of a wooden crate marked “FRAGILE” — seem to be direct lifts from the original movie design, leaving little room for the “fair use” defense that often protects artistic tributes.
A Flickering Light for Compromise?
As of now, no lawsuit has officially been filed, though Warner Bros.’ reservation-of-rights letter, obtained by KOKH, suggests they’re prepared to escalate. For the Chickasha Community Foundation, a small town organization facing down a multi-billion-dollar entertainment giant, the stakes are disproportionately high.
Whether the leg lamp’s light will be snuffed out by a cease-and-desist or saved by a licensing deal remains uncertain. For now, the giant leg continues to shine — a glowing reminder that even the quirkiest battles can illuminate bigger questions about creativity, ownership, and the true meaning of holiday spirit.
