Quote:
Originally Posted by QuantumIguana
It's possible that at some point, the courts might decide that "limited times" cannot be interpreted to mean anything less than infinity. Perhaps not likely, but possible. The intent of the copyright clause is clear, a limited-time monopoly in exchange for the work entering the public domain. The phrase "limited times" was used rather than a fixed number of years to give Congress some flexibility, but at some point, it doesn't qualify as limited anymore.
Perhaps we should just grant Disney an eternal copyright to Mickey Mouse, that would lower the pressure to keep extending copyright eternally.
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But with characters like Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny aren't they also a trademark or something not unlike the white polar bear and his bottle of coca cola? Just as the picture of the apple is part of the identity of Apple computers Mickey is linked with Disney. As the quote goes, "It all started with a mouse." Characters like Zorro, Cinderella, Snow White and others on the other hand existed before Walt Disney started his business. So there is a difference between them. Disney didn't invent them he just bought the film rights to the story in those cases.