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Alice in Wonderland was published in 1865. In 1923, 58 years later, one of the first cartoons produced by Disney was Alice's Wonderland. In 1924 - 91 years ag
by obrero 11y ago
Alice in Wonderland was published in 1865. In 1923, 58 years later, one of the first cartoons produced by Disney was Alice's Wonderland. In 1924 - 91 years ago - he made another Alice movie. That second movie is still under copyright, due to Disney lobbying, and will continue to be so until 2019.
Disney made his money ripping off Lewis Carroll, but taxpayers have to pay to enforce the rights on the works he ripped off 95 years after the fact.
- sbuk 11y agoThere is absolutely nothing stopping you or anyone else making a film, animated or otherwise, of Alice in Wonderland. Disney categorically do not own copyright to the original work. There have been over 30 non-Disney adaptations of Alice in Wonderland since the 1951 Disney version, as well as 2 more works by Disney. Since Lewis Carroll's original work had gone into the public domain, it is a misnomer to say that Disney "ripped it off". Anyone can take a public domain work and monetise it. That derivative work may be copyrighted, much like the performance of a Beethoven symphony (are the orchestra ripping off Beethoven?) or the performance of a Shakespeare play (again, are the actors, producers and directors ripping off Shakespeare?). You seem to find the money side distasteful, which is a different argument. The issue here is that the Walt Disney Company, who ultimately own the copyright to the derivative work, maintain their copyright. Yes, copyright laws need re-examining in a world where corporations own copyright, but it's far more nuanced than you are making out.