ORLANDO-Neither side is talking, but a federal court lawsuit filed by children's TV star Bill Nye against Walt Disney Co. has been settled.

The host of Bill Nye the Science Guy charged the theme park company illegally used his likeness on attractions at the Epcot site at Lake Buena Vista, FL. Disney denied the allegations. The suit sought $500,000. Settlement terms weren't disclosed.

Disney's Buena Vista TV unit distributes the show. Buena Vista gave Nye his own show in 1993. Nye is a former engineer at Boeing Co.

In other tourist-related, entertainment-industry happenings, Orlando-based Hard Rock Café International plans to feature live music at its 103 worldwide restaurants for the first time since opening the first restaurant in London in 1971.

The chain owns 55 restaurants with the balance franchised. A major factor in the chain's decision to try live music in an effort to attract a larger clientele is the declining revenue from merchandise sales over the past 10 years, according to company officials.

On the culinary and hotel side, Richard C. Kessler, developer of the 250-room Downtown Westin Grand Bohemian hotel, has contracted with Manny Garcia, one of Orlando's best-known restaurateurs, to run all of the $30 million hotel's food and beverage operations when the asset opens next year.

Garcia and his partners Tony Pace and Hal Valdes, all principals in Culinary Concepts, will also handle room service, catering, the Bosendorfer Lounge and the 120-seat Boheme Restaurant.

The 14-story hotel is on the northeast corner of South Street and Orange Avenue, directly across from the City Hall building.

In a similar deal, Johnny Rivers, a former executive chef at Walt Disney world, is introducing a restaurant with a Bahamian/Caribbean ambience at the 167-room Embassy Suites when it opens at Capital Plaza Downtown Oct. 9. The hotel is sold out for its first weekend, thanks to the Notre Dame vs. Navy football game at the Florida Citrus Bowl Oct. 14.

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Disney Settles Image Infringement Suit with Bill Nye

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