In 1928, Walk Disney Studios released a cartoon called Steamboat Willie. It was the debut of a character called Mickey Mouse, and also of his girlfriend Minnie Mouse. Ever since, Mickey has been the flagship character and the symbol of Disney. The character has been close to entering the public domain several time: in 1955, 1986, and in 2003, but each time the copyright was extended by legislation. Since there has been no copyright extension laws enacted in the past twenty years, the earliest version of Mickey Mouse will enter the public domain on January 1, 2024.
But that only applies to the original version of the mouse as he was designed for Steamboat Willie. Disney still has a copyright on later versions, and has trademarked the mouse, too. Trademark law is different, however, and is designed to protect companies from logo infringement, not the character itself. Disney will be watching us in the new year to see how the rubber-hose version of Mickey will be used. Read the details of the soon-to-be public domain Mickey at Variety. -Thanks, WTM!
(Image source: Wikipedia)
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I have had personal experience with their shenanigans. When my kids were young they went to a little daycare run by a little old lady and her volunteer helpers. The place had a dozen rocking chairs and women were always rocking the kids and it was such a calm, welcoming place. The old lady painted Mickey and Donald on the outside walls of her place and Disney sued her for 500,000 dollars for copyright infringement. End of that daycare. I have boycotted all things Disney since and that was late 1970's when it happened.
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It would take an act of Congress, and they got tired of Disney's shenanigans. 95 years is enough.
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thats weird they cant just renew the copyright for this specific mickey mouse (or can they)
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