These Classic Characters Are Losing Copyright Protection. They May Never Be the Same.
These Classic Characters Are Losing Copyright Protection. They May Never Be the Same.
What could happen to the original version of Mickey Mouse and others after they entered the public domain on Jan. 1? Hint: think Winnie the Pooh wielding a sledgehammer.
If you’re the creative type and you’re struggling to come up with your next idea, do not fear: some big works, including the original version of Mickey Mouse, are entering the public domain on Jan. 1 in the United States.
And if, on the other hand, you prefer your Disney characters to be cute, cuddly and never-changing, well … you might want to stop reading.
In 2024, thousands of copyrighted works published in 1928 are entering the public domain, after their 95-year term expires.
. . .
The New York Times reached out to some writers, producers and directors to give you a taste of what might be unleashed in this strange new world.
Not to worry. It’s public domain! Freedom! Steal away!
This is such a shitty take.
The quote near the beginning of the article is the correct point of view:
“It’s important for the preservation of our cultural record, for meaningful access to older works for inspiring future creativity,” Jennifer Jenkins, the director for the Center for the Study of the Public Domain at Duke Law School, said.
Creative works entering the public domain is the norm. The past decades of Disney paying to get copywrite time extended are abnormal.
The author is using nostalgia and some cherry-picked examples to fear-monger in favor of corporate control over creative works. He might as well be kissing the mouse's boots.
Don't disagree with you on copyright at all. I think you might be misreading the tone of this article though. It seems a lot lighter to me. At least, quoting a bunch of comedians joking around about possible uses of public domain characters would be a weird choice for a scare piece. The author has another recent article with a jokey tone too.
Peter Pan is the only example I can think of as a valid use for these ridiculous copyright lengths.
Wow, that title.
Way to make it sound like a bad thing and not more art becomes public.Do better NYT.
The author makes it pretty clear in the article that they all for this being a good thing. You don't get a bunch of creatives to pitch ideas for how they'd rework these old works if you're against the principle of the thing...
One of the best thread openers from yesterday
Oh noooo not my soulless corporate mascot v1.0 how will the world ever recover!!?!?
Seriously, what's up with this melodrama?
I prefer to call it: Imperialist Rat
People need to learn the difference between trademark and copyright.
Archive: https://archive.ph/RnM6X
A better article with more examples.
Wanda Gág, Millions of Cats (the oldest American picture book still in print)
Why am I not surprised the oldest picture book still in print is about cats?
edit: oh that was in the original article too, just missed it.
Satan! Worshipping! Whore! Mickey!
Disney helped to raise the copyright time. Mickey mouse protection act of 1998. Disney benefited from works in the public domain to create many of its stories and characters, while lobbying to increase the time before its works entered the public domain preventing anyone else from doing what they have been doing all along.
Permanently Deleted
Disney will simply claim that Steamboat Willie Mickey Mouse is a trademark as they have been using it in their properties for the last few years. So I predict that Disney will sue anyone trying to use it so that they can retain ownership.
For the talentless
Someone flunked history
Maybe just grumping their way through a hangover
“That great poets imitate and improve, whereas small ones steal and spoil.” -Alfred Tennyson
"Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal" -T. S. Eliot
“A good composer does not imitate; he steals.” -Igor Stravinsky
"I mean, Picasso had a saying, he said, "Good artists copy, great artists steal." And we have always been shameless about stealing great ideas." -Steve Jobs
"I'm going to destroy Android, because it's a stolen product. I'm willing to go thermonuclear war on this." -also Steve Jobs