4 ms·
Steamboat Willie doesn't go public domain until 2024, so there's technically another year. Disney is unlikely to attempt to push through another copyright term
by jcranmer 4y ago
Steamboat Willie doesn't go public domain until 2024, so there's technically another year.
Disney is unlikely to attempt to push through another copyright term extension (see https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/01/hollywood-says-its-not-planning-another-copyright-extension-push/ https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/01/hollywood-says-i... for fuller details). The two main reasons are that there is a much more forceful caucus in politics against copyright extension than there was 25 years ago, and the arguments for doing so are weaker (the copyright extension 25 years ago was partially driven by raising copyright term in the US from "life + 50" to "life + 70", in line with European standards).
If one pays careful attention however, one would note that Disney has, over the past few years, started using a clip from Steamboat Willie more aggressively in its films, which has led many to wonder if they're planning on taking down anyone who distributes Steamboat Willie on the basis of trademark violations instead.
- kneebonian 4y agoI've noticed them putting steam boat willie in all of the credits, at the same time things were going into the public domain, I had always assumed that was the game plan. Make steamboat willie trademark not copyright, and the laws become a lot more flexible around that.
- class4behavior 4y agoIn this case "European standards" are the product of US corporations - among others - laying foundation for the support of reforms at home.
- mannerheim 4y agoLife + 50 was in much of Europe in 1886 with the Berne Convention. Germany had a copyright duration of 80 years after the death of the author at one point; blaming US corporations for this is absurd when Europe has had plenty of domestic publishers with entrenched interests in longer copyright durations.
- mardifoufs 4y agoEuropean copyright laws have often been much stricter than in the US, in part because publishers have long been very close to the state (in countries like France and Germanu for example). If anything, Europe has been the bad influence historically, and has pionniered copyright treaties as the sibling comment mentions. It's crazy what some Europeans can blame the US for though.