http://www.neatorama.com/2008/08/22/is-disneys-copyright-of-steamboat-willies-mickey-mouse-still-valid/ The Neat Side of the Web Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:16:46 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/08/22/is-disneys-copyright-of-steamboat-willies-mickey-mouse-still-valid/comment-page-1/#comment-1515765 Disney-World-Pictures Wed, 25 Feb 2009 23:15:03 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/08/22/is-disneys-copyright-of-steamboat-willies-mickey-mouse-still-valid/#comment-1515765 I think if any of us started selling Steamboat Willie DVDs, that the nice people in suits from Anaheim would send us a rather forceful note... I think if any of us started selling Steamboat Willie DVDs, that the nice people in suits from Anaheim would send us a rather forceful note...

]]> http://www.neatorama.com/2008/08/22/is-disneys-copyright-of-steamboat-willies-mickey-mouse-still-valid/comment-page-1/#comment-796440 Tony LaRocca Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:41:09 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/08/22/is-disneys-copyright-of-steamboat-willies-mickey-mouse-still-valid/#comment-796440 If life teaches us anything, it's that the corporation with the most expensive lawyers always wins. It doesn't matter what the law actually is. If life teaches us anything, it's that the corporation with the most expensive lawyers always wins. It doesn't matter what the law actually is.

]]> http://www.neatorama.com/2008/08/22/is-disneys-copyright-of-steamboat-willies-mickey-mouse-still-valid/comment-page-1/#comment-779955 Epicanis Fri, 22 Aug 2008 23:38:15 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2008/08/22/is-disneys-copyright-of-steamboat-willies-mickey-mouse-still-valid/#comment-779955 <i>"Mickey Mouse might be free of copyright restrictions[...]"</i> Yes and no. Yes, "Mickey Mouse" images from "Steamboat Willie" may be free of copyright restrictions, however, Mickey Mouse® is also a <em>trademark</em>. I've never really understood Disney et al's hyperventilation over ancient previously-copyright-encumbered works maturing into public domain ones given this fact: the fact that any of us may be able to make copies of "Steamboat Willie" or portions thereof does <em>not</em> rob Disney Corporation of control of "Mickey Mouse" in any way. Personally, I just think they're reflexively greedy and power-hungry...and perhaps hoping to hold on until everything in the world goes "pay-per-view". "Mickey Mouse might be free of copyright restrictions[...]"
Yes and no. Yes, "Mickey Mouse" images from "Steamboat Willie" may be free of copyright restrictions, however, Mickey Mouse® is also a trademark. I've never really understood Disney et al's hyperventilation over ancient previously-copyright-encumbered works maturing into public domain ones given this fact: the fact that any of us may be able to make copies of "Steamboat Willie" or portions thereof does not rob Disney Corporation of control of "Mickey Mouse" in any way.
Personally, I just think they're reflexively greedy and power-hungry...and perhaps hoping to hold on until everything in the world goes "pay-per-view".

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