from Hacker News

Disney's earliest Mickey Mouse enters public domain as US copyright expires

by coolandsmartrr on 1/1/24, 7:35 AM with 188 comments

  • by geiagal on 1/1/24, 8:24 AM

    The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings enters the public domain in New Zealand, Egypt, and a couple other countries.

    Would have entered into the public domain in Canada had the government not signed a last-minute 20 year copyright extension act last year.

  • by ajdude on 1/1/24, 12:39 PM

    There's apparently a poster of Mickcy wearing gloves in full color from the same year Steamboat Willie came out (1928).

    Does this mean that full color gloved Mickcy is also in the public domain?

    https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mickey-mouse-poster_n_2149610

  • by geuis on 1/1/24, 8:17 AM

    Corridor posted the original cartoon a couple hours ago: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hmzO--ox7X0

  • by londons_explore on 1/1/24, 8:15 AM

    Disney now uses that 'steamboat willie' intro clip at the start of most of their stuff.

    Are they trying to use it as a trademark, and therefore use trademark law rather than copyright law to stop people using steamboat Willie publicly?

  • by blendo on 1/1/24, 9:16 AM

    “US copyright law says the rights to characters can be held for 95 years.”

    95 years ago was also about when the cinema and recording industries began.

    Since then, I’ll argue, all recorded entertainment and theatrical performances have become “fixed” into our culture similar to how Plato, the Bible, and Shakespeare became cultural touchstones due to literacy and the printing press.

    And now, as they enter the public domain, Mickey and others are becoming, for better or worse, an inescapable part of our common heritage.

  • by hgs3 on 1/1/24, 6:35 PM

    Disney's been using public domain works for decades (Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, etc). It's only fair they give back.

  • by andrei_says_ on 1/2/24, 4:40 AM

    Another way to frame this is - Disney has decided to not extend the copyright laws for all Americans and let this happen.

    The damage of the multiple extensions the company has already forced on all of us are devastating.

    Multiple times Disney has changed the law to extend copyright provisions and allow it and other corporations to take without giving back, siphoning value out of the public domain for decades upon decades.

    We have paid a hefty price for their profits, over and over again.

  • by imadethis on 1/1/24, 8:08 AM

    Also Wikimedia Commons' Media of the Day: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

  • by BaudouinVH on 1/1/24, 7:59 AM

    Only the Steamboat Willie Mickey enters the public domain if I remember correctly.

  • by dang on 1/1/24, 7:06 PM

    Related:

    January 1, 2024 is Public Domain Day - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38823973 - Dec 2023 (15 comments)

    Copyright for original Mickey Mouse persona to run out 1 January 2024 - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38799484 - Dec 2023 (10 comments)

    Mickey Mouse to Enter Public Domain: "It's Finally Happening'" - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38737164 - Dec 2023 (7 comments)

    Mickey, Disney, and the public domain: A 95-year love triangle - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38678021 - Dec 2023 (208 comments)

    Public Domain Day 2024 Is Coming: Here's What to Know - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38586978 - Dec 2023 (6 comments)

    The Mickey Mouse Copyright Runs Out in 2024 - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36559037 - July 2023 (64 comments)

  • by cubefox on 1/1/24, 10:40 AM

    This is a silly question, but when exactly did Mickey Mouse enter the public domain? On January 1, sure, but which time zone?

  • by countrymile on 1/1/24, 8:26 AM

    The BBC has Disney as the owners of the snapshot they use. It's a nice thing to do. But is it still correct? Are Disney still the owner's but the image is now public domain?

  • by tuckerconnelly on 1/1/24, 5:17 PM

    Cuphead should absolutely add a Mickey Mouse DLC.

  • by ourmandave on 1/1/24, 3:44 PM

    OG Winnie the Pooh is public, but his iconic Red Vest version is still under copyright.

    https://www.romanolaw.com/winnie-the-pooh-blood-and-honey-is...

  • by ethanwillis on 1/1/24, 2:27 PM

    If the title is going to be edited from the original. The "enter" here should become "enters"

  • by entwife on 1/1/24, 9:59 AM

    It's ironic that a cartoon that depicts musical improvisation is such a symbol of passively consumed culture.

  • by ChrisArchitect on 1/1/24, 2:11 PM

    Related discussions from yesterday and earlier:

    Mickey, Disney, and the public domain: A 95-year love triangle

    Public Domain Day 2024 Is Coming: Here's What to Know

    Etc

    https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38826061

  • by ChrisArchitect on 1/1/24, 2:12 PM

  • by alanjay on 1/1/24, 8:04 AM

    And about time, too!

  • by fortran77 on 1/1/24, 2:27 PM

    Mickey used as a trademark to identify a brand is still protected.

  • by fredgrott on 1/1/24, 3:27 PM

    before cheering, the trademark is still not public domain and that is probably how Disney will control the work going forward

  • by weinzierl on 1/1/24, 9:47 AM

    Before people cheer too much, surprisingly works can retroactively be snatched back from the public domain and go back into copyrighted state.

    The prime example is the movie Metropolis. It became public domain in 1953 but copyright was restored in 1996 only to re-enter the public domain a year ago today.

  • by SubiculumCode on 1/1/24, 8:55 AM

    might have to write a mousy ttrpg real quick like and put it up on driverhru