Disney to (finally) lose copyright to Mickey Mouse and become public domain. Surprised they didn't try to extend it (again) under Trump

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JEDI

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
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www.wionews.com

Disney to lose rights to Mickey Mouse as the character enters public domain. But there's a caveat

The mascot of Disney and one of the most recognisable characters in pop culture, Mickey Mouse, will be out of its owner's grasp next year. As per the New York Times, 'Steamboat Willie', the short animated film that introduced the character in 1928 is out of copyright. As per the US copyright...
www.wionews.com www.wionews.com

Originally, copyright laws expire after 75 yrs from first publication.
Mickey Mouse first appeared in 1928.
Then the Mickey Mouse protection act was passed in 1998 extending the expiration term by 20yrs, so 95 yrs from publication.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_Term_Extension_Act

2024 is the new copyright expiration date for the steamboat version of Mickey Mouse.

In today's political climate, i doubt Biden/Dems are willing to extend it.
I'm surprised Disney didn't push/buy an extension under Trump's presidency when he controlled both chambers of Congress.

Sidenote:
Disney's Winnie-the-Pooh became public domain in 2022.
Result: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnie-the-Pooh:_Blood_and_Honey
It made 50x profit, so there will be a sequel.
Hm... bestiality in Part2? :eek:
 
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Brainonska511

Brainonska511

Lifer
Dec 10, 2005
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It's not like they will really lose control of Mickey - they still have plenty of registered trademarks they can enforce to protect their brand. They just won't be able to stop someone from repackaging or rebroadcasting the original cartoons.
 
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sdifox

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
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Brainonska511 said:
It's not like they will really lose control of Mickey - they still have plenty of registered trademarks they can enforce to protect their brand. They just won't be able to stop someone from repackaging or rebroadcasting the original cartoons.
Click to expand...
no, you can create whatever you like, as long as you are not using Disney's version of Micky Mouse. For example, create a Mickey Mouse with triangular ears.
 
TheELF

TheELF

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Dec 22, 2012
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sdifox said:
no, you can create whatever you like, as long as you are not using Disney's version of Micky Mouse. For example, create a Mickey Mouse with triangular ears.
Click to expand...
You could do that at any time, well there are certain things that make up the copyright and as long as you change those you can do anything you want. That's how south park "got away" with making fun of mickey.

This case will allow you to take steamboat willie as is, as a whole, without changing anything, and create new stories animations and anything you want with it. (as long as you don't step on any other copyrights)
 
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hal2kilo

hal2kilo

Lifer
Feb 24, 2009
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JEDI said:
www.wionews.com

Disney to lose rights to Mickey Mouse as the character enters public domain. But there's a caveat

The mascot of Disney and one of the most recognisable characters in pop culture, Mickey Mouse, will be out of its owner's grasp next year. As per the New York Times, 'Steamboat Willie', the short animated film that introduced the character in 1928 is out of copyright. As per the US copyright...
www.wionews.com www.wionews.com

Originally, copyright laws expire after 75 yrs from first publication.
Mickey Mouse first appeared in 1928.
Then the Mickey Mouse protection act was passed in 1998 extending the expiration term by 20yrs, so 95 yrs from publication.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_Term_Extension_Act

2024 is the new copyright expiration date for the steamboat version of Mickey Mouse.

In today's political climate, i doubt Biden/Dems are willing to extend it.
I'm surprised Disney didn't push/buy an extension under Trump's presidency when he controlled both chambers of Congress.

Sidenote:
Disney's Winnie-the-Pooh became public domain in 2022.
Result: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnie-the-Pooh:_Blood_and_Honey
It made 50x profit, so there will be a sequel.
Will there be bestiality in Part2? :eek:
Click to expand...
So that poster with all of the Disney characters screwing each other from the late 60s/early 70s is a go now?
 
Lost_in_the_HTTP

Lost_in_the_HTTP

Lifer
Nov 17, 2019
10,083
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I don't much care for what Disney has become since the 70s, but this is an example of the exception that should go on in perpetuity. This character is pretty much synonymous with the company as a whole, still actively used as one of their most recognized symbols on corporate properties.
 
A

A///

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2017
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my understanding is only the steamboat version of micky is open now and not the mickey we see today.
 
sdifox

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
93,821
14,365
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A/// said:
my understanding is only the steamboat version of micky is open now and not the mickey we see today.
Click to expand...
That doesn't make sense since Disney maintained it is the same character.
 
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A

A///

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2017
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sdifox said:
That doesn't make aense since Disney maintained it is the same character.
Click to expand...
I'm going by what I remember reading years ago when they last extended it. Temple Law had an article a year or two ago about winny. the character is in public domain but disney's version is still theirs.

I don't remember the specifics of the last micky bullshit but they implemented changes over the years so they could copyright that specific look while the original's went into public domain. Here's a better write up from Duke Law that explains it.

Public Domain Day 2022 Brand Culture vs the Public Domain | Duke University School of Law

This Bear’s For You! (Or, Is It?) Can Companies Use Copyright and Trademark To Claim Rights to Public Domain Works? By Jennifer Jenkins, Director of Duke’s Center for the Study of the Public Domain Winnie-the-Pooh (1926) The original stuffed toys that inspired Winnie-the-Pooh characters...
web.law.duke.edu web.law.duke.edu

i don't care about any of this tbh but i wouldn't mind a micky shitting on deshitstain if anyone wants to design one.
 
Zorba

Zorba

Lifer
Oct 22, 1999
13,946
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sdifox said:
That doesn't make aense since Disney maintained it is the same character.
Click to expand...
Mickey's appearance has changed a lot over the years and from show to show. Basically this will free people to create derivative work of the original Mickey or straight up copy the original Mickey. But you can't make derivative work of newer Mickey's.

Just like any one can make a Little Mermaid movie, but it can't be a derivative of Disney's version.
 
gorobei

gorobei

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2007
3,616
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sdifox said:
That doesn't make aense since Disney maintained it is the same character.
Click to expand...
copyright expires, trademark doesnt as long as you defend it. while they lose control of the copyright to steamboat willie, they still have control over the 3 circle mouse ears mickey logo and the more current designs of mickey.

other people can now air and sell versions of the steamboat willie film, but they dont get free use of the other movies until they reach the 95 year mark.

the logo and other images being tied to disney's trademarks is where the legal fight between copyright will be fought.

screenrant.com

Mickey Mouse's Impending Copyright Expiration Explained

So, is Mickey Mouse entering the public domain?
screenrant.com screenrant.com
 
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