disney copyright forever

[UncleDuke]

just heard a story that disney will get a forever copyright on mickey as a 'symbol of america' from the new administration like peter pan in england, maybe a stature on the mall too

[Nate the great]

They're certainly going to try!

[zelda_pinwheel]

well, i can't say i find that justified or reasonable, but if it means they'll stop corrupting the copyright laws for the rest of us then i'm all for it.

(also : seriously ?? they want the symbol of america to be a cartoon rat ????)

[JSWolf]

It's a mouse, not a rat.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It's a mouse, not a rat.

oh well that makes all the difference, i'm sure.

[bill_mchale]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It's a mouse, not a rat.

Find me a 6' tall mouse and I might believe you

--
Bill

[bill_mchale]

Originally Posted by UncleDuke

just heard a story that disney will get a forever copyright on mickey as a 'symbol of america' from the new administration like peter pan in england, maybe a stature on the mall too

Well, I believe that decision would have to be made by congress and then tested in the Supreme Court. While the Supreme Court seems to allow a de facto perpetual copyright, the Constitution is pretty clear about prohibiting and actual perpetual copyright.

In any case, the Peter Pan copyright is, if I remember held by a charitable organization... which is why it was granted a perpetual copyright in Britain. Quite different from granting a for profit corporation a perpetual copyright.

--
Bill

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by bill_mchale

Well, I believe that decision would have to be made by congress and then tested in the Supreme Court. While the Supreme Court seems to allow a de facto perpetual copyright, the Constitution is pretty clear about prohibiting and actual perpetual copyright.

In any case, the Peter Pan copyright is, if I remember held by a charitable organization... which is why it was granted a perpetual copyright in Britain. Quite different from granting a for profit corporation a perpetual copyright.

--
Bill

Agreed. I doubt that giving a perpetual copyright to a for profit company would be allowed. Now, if they want to transfer the copyright of Mickey Mouse to the people of the United States of America in perpetuity ... then fine by me.

And, the US already has a symbol, thank you very much. There is Uncle Sam after all .... I don't see him going away anytime soon. Of course, I can just see the current administration trying to slide something like that in under the wire.

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

And, the US already has a symbol, thank you very much. There is Uncle Sam after all .... I don't see him going away anytime soon. Of course, I can just see the current administration trying to slide something like that in under the wire.

How could he do that with a Democrat controlled Congress?

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

Now, if they want to transfer the copyright of Mickey Mouse to the people of the United States of America in perpetuity ... then fine by me.

Yeah, it's called public domain.

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by UncleDuke

just heard a story that disney will get a forever copyright on mickey as a 'symbol of america' from the new administration like peter pan in england, maybe a stature on the mall too

Where did you hear this story?

[pshrynk]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

It's a mouse, not a rat.

Mice are small. Rats are big. Just sayin'.

[Greg Anos]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

oh well that makes all the difference, i'm sure.

I find the rat to be quite emblematic of our government (both parties combined), The statue should be right at the main entrance of Congress!

[pshrynk]

Seriously, if the rat were to belong in perpetuity to Disney, then they would quit fuxing with the copyright laws and then we'd have some sanity in the world. not much, but some.

[Greg Anos]

Originally Posted by bill_mchale

Well, I believe that decision would have to be made by congress and then tested in the Supreme Court. While the Supreme Court seems to allow a de facto perpetual copyright, the Constitution is pretty clear about prohibiting and actual perpetual copyright.

In any case, the Peter Pan copyright is, if I remember held by a charitable organization... which is why it was granted a perpetual copyright in Britain. Quite different from granting a for profit corporation a perpetual copyright.

--
Bill

I've read the recent Supreme Court ruling on copyright. They did not agree to perpetual copyright. They just said that the length was to be determined by Congress, which was free to lengthen (or shorten) it as Congress saw fit.

(No, I didn't keep a link...)