>Will we have new versions become public domain every couple years, corresponding to every individually released Movie or TV Cartoon/Short? Yes, copyright prot

>Will we have new versions become public domain every couple years, corresponding to every individually released Movie or TV Cartoon/Short? Yes, copyright protects artistic works, not individual characters. That means you can use the aspects of characters that appear in works that have entered the public domain, but not the parts that are still protected. There was a period when anyone could make a Sherlock Holmes story, but you couldn't have Watson get married because that later book was still under copyright. The Wizard of Oz books have been in the public domain for a while, but Dorothy has to stick to the original diamond shoes because the ruby slippers originated in the MGM movie. The same thing will continue to happen with Mickey Mouse and every other character that appeared in multiple works.