If you want to make yourself crazy: the original term of copyright was 14 years. And, that wasn’t after the death of the author, either – it was 14 years after first publication!
Not sure where I stand on this one. If Mickey is the legal property of the Disney company, which is still in existence and still uses him, why should the character become public property?
There’s a difference between “copyright” and “trademark.” Thus the earlier Tarzan stories are out of copyright, anyone can publish them, and you can use the Tarzan character in your own stories, but the active trademark means you can’t make any money off Tarzan without cutting in the Burroughs estate.
Disney has cleverly allowed artists to do their own riffs on the Disney properties – as long as they are not drawn too much like their versions.Originally there was NO copyright; the idea was to give creators some ownership and protection. Then it got longer to provide some ownership to their families, in effect so the children of the creator could benefit. Now it has shifted to corporations, which of course exist in perpetuity…There are some interesting debates about this; a lot of people feel that it is not right to restrain the rights of creators and artists to use public domain content by effectively eliminating the movement into the public domain.
Hey, I’m all for copyright. I benefit from copyright. But there’s a reasonable limit, and our current laws have strayed too far from that.
Life plus 50 years (like Canada) or plus 70 years (like in the EU) are more reasonable than our plus 95 years, and flat 95 years for corporate copyright. Go back to corporate copyright having to be renewed after 28 years, and a single renewal.
There are even laws being floated around now to extend that even further as Disney stares down the inevitable expiration of the copyright for “Steamboat Willie” in seven years. Sonny Bono bought the Mouse an additional 25 years back in the 1990’s, and now they want more. At the same time they’re pushing these horrible “Orphan Works” laws that would open up the copyright of everything owned by someone without an expensive lawyer to defend those rights for free use by them and companies like them.
The Mouse is ruining things for everyone. Steamboat Willie should have entered public domain years ago but that has become the dividing line. Nothing after its creation can be permitted to become pd. Copyright has been extended four times to make sure it stays covered. It was made about five years after Pogo.
aardvarkseyes over 8 years ago
If you want to make yourself crazy: the original term of copyright was 14 years. And, that wasn’t after the death of the author, either – it was 14 years after first publication!
aardvarkseyes over 8 years ago
PS: I’m a huge Krazy fan – this was awesome.
Sherlock Watson over 8 years ago
Not sure where I stand on this one. If Mickey is the legal property of the Disney company, which is still in existence and still uses him, why should the character become public property?
SKJAM! Premium Member over 8 years ago
There’s a difference between “copyright” and “trademark.” Thus the earlier Tarzan stories are out of copyright, anyone can publish them, and you can use the Tarzan character in your own stories, but the active trademark means you can’t make any money off Tarzan without cutting in the Burroughs estate.
jrankin1959 over 8 years ago
Er… having trouble with Disney’s lawyers, Mr. Sungenis?
Motivemagus over 8 years ago
Disney has cleverly allowed artists to do their own riffs on the Disney properties – as long as they are not drawn too much like their versions.Originally there was NO copyright; the idea was to give creators some ownership and protection. Then it got longer to provide some ownership to their families, in effect so the children of the creator could benefit. Now it has shifted to corporations, which of course exist in perpetuity…There are some interesting debates about this; a lot of people feel that it is not right to restrain the rights of creators and artists to use public domain content by effectively eliminating the movement into the public domain.
Pab Sungenis creator over 8 years ago
As for my use of the Mouse, it’s commentary and thus fair use.
Pab Sungenis creator over 8 years ago
Hey, I’m all for copyright. I benefit from copyright. But there’s a reasonable limit, and our current laws have strayed too far from that.
Life plus 50 years (like Canada) or plus 70 years (like in the EU) are more reasonable than our plus 95 years, and flat 95 years for corporate copyright. Go back to corporate copyright having to be renewed after 28 years, and a single renewal.
There are even laws being floated around now to extend that even further as Disney stares down the inevitable expiration of the copyright for “Steamboat Willie” in seven years. Sonny Bono bought the Mouse an additional 25 years back in the 1990’s, and now they want more. At the same time they’re pushing these horrible “Orphan Works” laws that would open up the copyright of everything owned by someone without an expensive lawyer to defend those rights for free use by them and companies like them.
Meh~tdology, fka Pepelaputr over 8 years ago
Apropos of nothing:10 Public Domain Characters That Are Overdue For A Reboothttp://io9.com/10-public-domain-characters-overdue-for-a-reboot-1680918010
Durak Premium Member over 8 years ago
That’s ok folks. Thanks to corporate culture nothing new will ever be created again anyway. Now y’all go out and get in line for Star Wars, ya hear?
Jennifer Kendzior over 8 years ago
The Mouse is ruining things for everyone. Steamboat Willie should have entered public domain years ago but that has become the dividing line. Nothing after its creation can be permitted to become pd. Copyright has been extended four times to make sure it stays covered. It was made about five years after Pogo.