Disney loses famous Mickey Mouse copyright in 2024, along with many others
Short Summary:
The video discusses the expiration of Disney's copyright on the 1928 Mickey Mouse cartoon, Steamboat Willie, and other works entering the public domain on January 1st, 2024. This means anyone can now legally use the specific Steamboat Willie versions of Mickey and Minnie Mouse in new creative works, but not later iterations of the characters. The implications are significant, highlighting the cyclical nature of creativity built upon prior works and the potential for both innovative and exploitative uses of now-public-domain characters, as exemplified by the controversial Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey. The video also previews other high-profile works entering the public domain in the coming years, including Donald Duck, Superman, Batman, and classic films like The Wizard of Oz. No specific processes or methods are detailed beyond the legal implications of copyright expiration.
Detailed Summary:
Section 1: Mickey Mouse Enters the Public Domain
The video opens by announcing the expiration of copyright protection on several works, including Steamboat Willie, the debut of Mickey Mouse. This marks the end of Disney's exclusive rights to the 1928 version of the character. The reporter explains that this was delayed several times due to Congressional extensions but is now finally happening. The significance is emphasized—Disney will lose control, and others can freely use the Steamboat Willie images.
Section 2: The Cyclical Nature of Creativity
Harvard law professor Lawrence Lessig is quoted, stating, "what basically is happening now is that we will be able to do to the great works of Disney what Disney did to the great works of the public domain before him and that's how creativity is supposed to happen; we build on our past." This highlights the cyclical nature of artistic creation, where new works are built upon existing ones. The professor suggests Disney should celebrate this.
Section 3: Limitations and Caveats
Duke Law professor Jennifer Jenkins explains the limitations. Users can't use the characters in a way that misleads consumers into believing Disney is involved. She uses the analogy of the public domain being "like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're going to get." The example of Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey is used to illustrate both the potential for unexpected and controversial adaptations and the public's role in determining the lasting appeal of such works.
Section 4: Disney's Reliance on the Public Domain and Future Entries
The video points out Disney's extensive use of public domain works in its own productions (e.g., The Lion King, Frozen, The Little Mermaid). This makes the Mickey Mouse copyright expiration deeply symbolic. The video then lists several other high-profile characters and works entering the public domain in the coming years, including Donald Duck, Superman, Batman, The Wizard of Oz, Casablanca, and Gone With the Wind.
Section 5: Concluding Thoughts
The video concludes with a reiteration of Lessig's quote and a brief discussion of Mickey Mouse's earlier appearance as Mortimer Mouse in the film Plane Crazy, before his name was changed at the suggestion of Walt Disney's wife. The possibility of a "Mickey Mouse Blood and Honey" type film is humorously dismissed.