Quote:
Originally Posted by QuantumIguana
If copyright is not extended, Steamboat Willie will enter the public domain. That would mean that people would be able to distribute it without permission. But Disney has a trademark on Mickey Mouse, so people would be unable to create new works with Mickey Mouse. And even if it wasn't for the trademark, it's important to note that only the earliest representations of Mickey Mouse would enter the public domain, later representations, which look more like what we are used to, would take longer to enter the public domain.
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There are
good arguments that Mickey Mouse is already public domain, and has been for many years, either due to an incorrect copyright notice, or publication without a copyright notice.