‘Sesame Street’ Owners Sue SeaWorld to Terminate Licensing Deal

The nonprofit accused the park operator of failing to pay royalties and harming the Sesame Street brand.

The sign at the entrance to SeaWorld in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 24, 2010. Matt Stroshane/Getty Images

Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind the children’s television show “Sesame Street,” has sued SeaWorld’s parent company, accusing the theme park operator of breaching a licensing agreement to promote the brand.

In a complaint filed on March 12 in federal court in New York, Sesame Workshop described SeaWorld’s conduct as an “imminent threat” to the Sesame Street brand and asked a judge to terminate its deal with SeaWorld Entertainment, which rebranded in 2024 as United Parks & Resorts.