4 ms·

I don't think anybody ever thought they'd live to see the day when Mickey Mouse entered the public domain. I'm still not sure I'll believe it until the clock st

I don't think anybody ever thought they'd live to see the day when Mickey Mouse entered the public domain. I'm still not sure I'll believe it until the clock strikes midnight and Congress actually lets it happen. Tomorrow is easily the most important and consequential Public Domain Day in recent memory. Even if it isn't the most recognizable version of Mickey Mouse, this is still an enormous symbolic victory.

6stringmerc 3y ago
[flagged]
- leereeves 3y ago
  It's the film Steamboat Willie featuring the characters Mickey and Minnie Mouse. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steamboat_Willie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steamboat_Willie
  - 6stringmerc 3y ago
    [flagged]
- haroldl 3y ago
  The opening of the animation has the phrase “A Mickey Mouse Sound Cartoon” on screen. IANAL but I saw on the news that this means the character’s name and old-style likeness are fair game for new content by anybody.
  - 6stringmerc 3y ago
    [flagged]
    - deleted 3y ago
      [deleted]
    - tadfisher 3y ago
      This here is why I don't seek out gonzo-style writing. I absolutely cannot tell if you're satirizing your position or if you're doubling down on being completely, factually, verifiably incorrect.
    - dang 3y ago
      I don't know what's going on, but your posts to HN have been increasingly offtopic lately, and against the site guidelines. I'm guessing that it's best if we ban your account for now. You've been a good HN user for many years and we definitely want you part of the community, but only if you're able to participate meaningfully and within the site guidelines (https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html). If and when that happens, please email hn@ycombinator.com and we'll take a look and hopefully unban you.
delfinom 3y ago
$5 that Disney has started using steamboat Willie as part of Disney Animations shows as a logo purely because they will seek to file a trademark lawsuit against the first person they find trying to use what they think is "public domain" Mickey.
- MichaelZuo 3y ago
  Trademarks are designed to be forever, as long as they remain well known enough, but that doesn't prevent someone from using the concept instead of the actual image itself. i.e. You could write a book with the character mentioned in it just like you can write a book with Coke mentioned in it.
lotsofpulp 3y ago
I am not grasping the consequences of the copyright works entering the public tomorrow. What are they? A 100 year copyright term might as well be infinite. Very, very few things are culturally relevant after that long.
- paulryanrogers 3y ago
  Well life+70y, so theoretically up to ~170y. Regardless, I'd agree that few things need protecting for so long. Kids can work for themselves.

6stringmerc 3y ago

[flagged]

leereeves 3y ago
It's the film Steamboat Willie featuring the characters Mickey and Minnie Mouse. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steamboat_Willie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steamboat_Willie
- 6stringmerc 3y ago
  [flagged]
haroldl 3y ago
The opening of the animation has the phrase “A Mickey Mouse Sound Cartoon” on screen. IANAL but I saw on the news that this means the character’s name and old-style likeness are fair game for new content by anybody.
- 6stringmerc 3y ago
  [flagged]
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
  - tadfisher 3y ago
    This here is why I don't seek out gonzo-style writing. I absolutely cannot tell if you're satirizing your position or if you're doubling down on being completely, factually, verifiably incorrect.
  - dang 3y ago
    I don't know what's going on, but your posts to HN have been increasingly offtopic lately, and against the site guidelines. I'm guessing that it's best if we ban your account for now. You've been a good HN user for many years and we definitely want you part of the community, but only if you're able to participate meaningfully and within the site guidelines (https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html). If and when that happens, please email hn@ycombinator.com and we'll take a look and hopefully unban you.

delfinom 3y ago

$5 that Disney has started using steamboat Willie as part of Disney Animations shows as a logo purely because they will seek to file a trademark lawsuit against the first person they find trying to use what they think is "public domain" Mickey.

MichaelZuo 3y ago
Trademarks are designed to be forever, as long as they remain well known enough, but that doesn't prevent someone from using the concept instead of the actual image itself. i.e. You could write a book with the character mentioned in it just like you can write a book with Coke mentioned in it.

lotsofpulp 3y ago

I am not grasping the consequences of the copyright works entering the public tomorrow. What are they? A 100 year copyright term might as well be infinite. Very, very few things are culturally relevant after that long.

paulryanrogers 3y ago
Well life+70y, so theoretically up to ~170y. Regardless, I'd agree that few things need protecting for so long. Kids can work for themselves.