This iconic mouse is weeks away fromn being in the public domain Jan. 1, 2024, is the day when ‘Steamboat Willie’ enters the public domain

  • @RightHandOfIkaros
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    841 year ago

    If Disney doesn’t keep illegally extending the copyright dates, continuing to ruin the way copyrights are supposed to actually work, I will legitimately be surprised.

    • @gedaliyahOP
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      711 year ago

      It’s not illegal if you change the laws… 🙃

        • @galloog1
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          11 year ago

          I’m pretty sure that Congress passing legislation concerning interstate trade is expressly permitted in the Constitution. You could make an argument for ethics, practicality, or economics. I don’t think you can make a legality argument here.

    • osarusan
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      381 year ago

      illegally

      The problem is that they’re doing it legally.

      • @RightHandOfIkaros
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        31 year ago

        I refuse to believe they are not bribing judges and lawmakers. Its not possible that Disney is doing this without doing anything illegal.

        • osarusan
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          31 year ago

          They might be doing that… but not possible? Come on dude. That’s just a failure of imagination. There are plenty of legal ways to corrupt the government. Lobbying is the most common one, and very legal. Insisting that they’re committing crimes without any evidence of it is just silly.

    • Calavera
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      221 year ago

      Even if they wanted, there is not much time left to change anything at this point

    • magic_lobster_party
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      81 year ago

      Mickey Mouse is no longer as relevant in Disney’s dominance anymore. They got bigger cash cows to milk.

        • arthurpizza
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          71 year ago

          That’s why it’s trademarked. Unlike a copyright, trademarks can last forever.

          • Infiltrated_ad8271
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            1 year ago

            But from what I’m understanding third parties will be able to use it at will to some extent, right? Disney must have an interest in keeping something so representative under tight control, even if it’s just the first version.

            • arthurpizza
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              51 year ago

              You can use the character without infringing the trademark. Part of the reason they scatter the hidden Mickey shape everywhere is because that’s part of the branding.

              A good example of using the character without infringing trademark is the “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” movie.

      • @[email protected]
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        61 year ago

        Even less so for the version in Steamboat Willy, which is all that would be released. Modern Mickey is not being released anytime soon.