01-01-2024, 10:17 AM
Probably a tenacious link but I notice Steamboat Willie has finally dropped into public domain in the US, after 40 years of Disney effectively pulling out all the stops to prevent that.
www.bbc.co.uk
Not sure about the EU copyright status as I think the current status quo (lifetime+70 years) only applies if the work was created in Europe (Walt Disney of course being American), but I think it's public domain elsewhere for the most part.
Disney will protect the later incarnations of the character via the trademark (which can be renewed in theory ad-infinitum) but as he appeared in Steamboat Willie? Knock yourself out it would appear.
www.bbc.co.uk
Not sure about the EU copyright status as I think the current status quo (lifetime+70 years) only applies if the work was created in Europe (Walt Disney of course being American), but I think it's public domain elsewhere for the most part.
Disney will protect the later incarnations of the character via the trademark (which can be renewed in theory ad-infinitum) but as he appeared in Steamboat Willie? Knock yourself out it would appear.
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