3 ms·
I wonder if there is a compromise that can be done to at least get the works out there. I get the feeling the big fear isn't really that "Steamboat Willie" wou
by protomyth 10y ago
I wonder if there is a compromise that can be done to at least get the works out there. I get the feeling the big fear isn't really that "Steamboat Willie" would be freely available, but that the character of Mickey Mouse would be.
It seems like an extension of trademark law with continued registration and payments on the characters would be a compromise that could break lose the original book / movie.
I would imagine many would hate to give up the ability to create new, original stories or do mashups, but we won't get that anyway.
- dublinben 10y agoTrademark doesn't have time limits like Copyright. There is no real threat to Disney's control over the Mickey character in commerce.
- protomyth 10y agoCan you cite where the work in the public domain can be stopped from mashups by trademark currently. It sounds like as soon as the copyright expires people can do their own thing with the work.
- dublinben 10y agoHere's some more information on the subject: http://copyright.nova.edu/mickey-public-domain/ http://copyright.nova.edu/mickey-public-domain/
- protomyth 10y ago> the Court ruled that in order for trademark to protect a character in the public domain, the character must have obtained “secondary meaning.” That's a pretty high bar, and what I suggested for a compromise was quite a bit lower.