In the history of animation, a short film called "Steamship Willie" created a legend of the era.
In this 1928 production, the original silent images of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse set Disney on a glorious journey that became part of cinematic history.
Today, with the expiration of the copyright in the United States, these images no longer belong to Disney and can be part of the public domain.
This means that creators, such as cartoonists, are free to remake and use the original version of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse without any licensing or fees.
However, Disney warns that a more modern version of Mickey is still protected by copyright.
This change is not only a milestone in copyright law, but also a new chapter in creative freedom.
Now, anyone can legally share, perform, reuse, or adapt these classics.
Despite this, the trademark rights to Mickey as a brand identity and corporate mascot remain in Disney's hands.
This means that if the public uses the image of Mickey Mouse to create a false impression that it is a Disney brand, then trademark issues will still be touched.
And for a company like Disney that has played a "perceived role" in the copyright extension, the moment is especially symbolic.
Now, people are free to copy, share, and create on these original animations and the characters in them.
This change has sparked widespread discussion and speculation.
For example, Jack Kendall, a Disney news narrator for a YouTube channel, thinks someone might try to make a horror movie for Mickey and Minnie Mouse, just as Winnie the Pooh was adapted into the R-rated horror film Blood and Honey when it entered the public domain.
What do you think, readers?Feel free to leave a message in the comment section to discuss, or share your thoughts and ideas!