Marilyn MonHoe 8,720 Posted January 1 Share Posted January 1 It was the animation that launched the House of Mouse. Steamboat Willie, a 1928 short film featuring early non-speaking versions of Mickey and Minnie, is widely seen as the moment that transformed Disney's fortunes and made cinema history. Their images are now available to the public in the US, after Disney's copyright expired. It means creatives like cartoonists can now rework and use the earliest versions of Mickey and Minnie. In fact, anyone can use those versions without permission or cost. But Disney warned that more modern versions of Mickey are still covered by copyright. "We will, of course, continue to protect our rights in the more modern versions of Mickey Mouse and other works that remain subject to copyright," the company said. US copyright law says the rights to characters can be held for 95 years, which means the characters in Steamboat Willie entered the public domain on Monday, 1 January 2024. Source: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/mickey-and-minnie-mouse-enter-public-domain-in-us/ar-AA1mi763 1 1 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fame 4,081 Posted January 1 Share Posted January 1 I'm very shocked that Disney wasn't able to keep a chokehold on all versions of Mickey Mouse. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Railing 2,274 Posted January 1 Share Posted January 1 49 minutes ago, Marilyn MonHoe said: US copyright law says the rights to characters can be held for 95 years Which is frankly ridiculous and needs to be made a smaller amount of time An idea should not hold copyright for longer than the human life expectancy 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borislshere 52,671 Posted January 1 Share Posted January 1 (edited) The worst horror movie we’ve ever seen coming in 3,2,1… Edited January 1 by Borislshere 1 8 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
River 104,789 Posted January 1 Share Posted January 1 American Mcgee’s Mickey and Mickey: Madness Returns plz thanks I could play the moderator, I can ban you, die sis. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
INNA 3,550 Posted January 1 Share Posted January 1 Waiting to see that Steamboat B*ssy and some Minnie M*ff!!!! TF!! fragment-fragment--bul-uh...scab-uh..fragment-foot, bullet fragment foot bich! 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
weed 70,896 Posted January 1 Share Posted January 1 Is it just their image or the names as well? Like could there be a new TV show Mickey & Minnie by non-Disney? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Evans 8,917 Posted January 1 Share Posted January 1 can't wait for Mickey Mouse: Blood and Cheese (2024) Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LateToCult 39,634 Posted January 2 Share Posted January 2 Oomf said he was gonna sell Mickie slvtting out Minnie art 😭 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
skaxboy 4,383 Posted January 2 Share Posted January 2 Batman and Bugs Bunny as well. I always assumed that this meant people can create their own “Mickey Mouse” but it can’t resemble the Disney design. Like no big circled hear cute faced mouse with big white gloves. On one hand, it’s weird that something that is still owned by the exact same company is now allowed to be used by just anyone. On the other hand, many Disney’s films and attractions have been adaptations from stories in the public domain. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Future Lovers 6,437 Posted January 2 Share Posted January 2 8 hours ago, Railing said: Which is frankly ridiculous and needs to be made a smaller amount of time An idea should not hold copyright for longer than the human life expectancy If should be longer actually. Copyright law is incredibly important and needs to be far stricter than it is. In less than 24 hours we got the official announcement of a Mickey Mouse horror movie. Creative works going public domain only serves to harm art. 2 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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