this post was submitted on 01 Jan 2024
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125
These Classic Characters Are Losing Copyright Protection. They May Never Be the Same. (www.nytimes.com)
submitted 10 months ago by breakfastmtn@lemmy.ca to c/news@lemmy.world
24 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

If you’re the creative type and you’re struggling to come up with your next idea, do not fear: some big works, including the original version of Mickey Mouse, are entering the public domain on Jan. 1 in the United States.

And if, on the other hand, you prefer your Disney characters to be cute, cuddly and never-changing, well … you might want to stop reading.

In 2024, thousands of copyrighted works published in 1928 are entering the public domain, after their 95-year term expires.

. . .

The New York Times reached out to some writers, producers and directors to give you a taste of what might be unleashed in this strange new world.

Archive

all 25 comments
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[–] NaibofTabr@infosec.pub 115 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Not to worry. It’s public domain! Freedom! Steal away!

This is such a shitty take.

The quote near the beginning of the article is the correct point of view:

“It’s important for the preservation of our cultural record, for meaningful access to older works for inspiring future creativity,” Jennifer Jenkins, the director for the Center for the Study of the Public Domain at Duke Law School, said.

Creative works entering the public domain is the norm. The past decades of Disney paying to get copywrite time extended are abnormal.

The author is using nostalgia and some cherry-picked examples to fear-monger in favor of corporate control over creative works. He might as well be kissing the mouse's boots.

[–] breakfastmtn@lemmy.ca 7 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Don't disagree with you on copyright at all. I think you might be misreading the tone of this article though. It seems a lot lighter to me. At least, quoting a bunch of comedians joking around about possible uses of public domain characters would be a weird choice for a scare piece. The author has another recent article with a jokey tone too.

[–] AbidanYre@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Peter Pan is the only example I can think of as a valid use for these ridiculous copyright lengths.

[–] Chocrates@lemmy.world 76 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Wow, that title.
Way to make it sound like a bad thing and not more art becomes public.

Do better NYT.

[–] StorminNorman@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago

The author makes it pretty clear in the article that they all for this being a good thing. You don't get a bunch of creatives to pitch ideas for how they'd rework these old works if you're against the principle of the thing...

[–] mateomaui@reddthat.com 39 points 10 months ago

One of the best thread openers from yesterday

[–] PP_BOY_@lemmy.world 28 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Oh noooo not my soulless corporate mascot v1.0 how will the world ever recover!!?!?

Seriously, what's up with this melodrama?

[–] chemicalwonka@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 10 months ago

I prefer to call it: Imperialist Rat

[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 14 points 10 months ago

People need to learn the difference between trademark and copyright.

[–] fireweed@lemmy.world 11 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Archive: https://archive.ph/RnM6X

[–] breakfastmtn@lemmy.ca 6 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Is there a difference between that link and the one in the post?

[–] CluckN@lemmy.world 8 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Archive links get rid of paywalls

[–] breakfastmtn@lemmy.ca 8 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I know. I included one at the bottom of the post.

[–] CluckN@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago (1 children)

the guy who posted the link has Weed in the name making his post twice as good.

[–] breakfastmtn@lemmy.ca 4 points 10 months ago

Just the facts, really. Can't argue with that.

[–] harry_balzac@lemmy.world 7 points 10 months ago (1 children)

https://archive.ph/yLVks

A better article with more examples.

[–] mateomaui@reddthat.com 4 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Wanda Gág, Millions of Cats (the oldest American picture book still in print)

Why am I not surprised the oldest picture book still in print is about cats?

edit: oh that was in the original article too, just missed it.

[–] Warl0k3@lemmy.world 7 points 10 months ago

Satan! Worshipping! Whore! Mickey!

[–] cmoney@lemmy.world 6 points 10 months ago

Disney helped to raise the copyright time. Mickey mouse protection act of 1998. Disney benefited from works in the public domain to create many of its stories and characters, while lobbying to increase the time before its works entered the public domain preventing anyone else from doing what they have been doing all along.

[–] necrobius@lemm.ee 1 points 10 months ago

Disney will simply claim that Steamboat Willie Mickey Mouse is a trademark as they have been using it in their properties for the last few years. So I predict that Disney will sue anyone trying to use it so that they can retain ownership.