Uploaded December 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
You'd be correct in assuming that items would enter the public domain on a yearly basis, but Disney and their Smart and Powerful Lawyers had put a stop to it all!
In 1998, works from 1922 were about to enter the public domain. This concerned the likes of Disney.
Disney feared that they would soon lose control over some of their most beloved and profitable characters, most notably Mickey Mouse, and decided to take action. They decided to lean upon the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act and had the law changed in their favour.
In court, they successfully changed the Copyright Act of 1976 to be the life of the author plus 75yrs. (This was previously 56yrs.) Therefore, giving themselves around 20yrs to play with short term and hopefully come up with a new rescue plan.
Works of a Corporate Authorship were also amended in their favour and would from then be extended to 120yrs. Works before 1978 would be 95yrs from the first publication.
This, of course, not only protected their beloved Mickey but also every other IP they have since created.
Read my full article over on the GoCollect Blog:
blog.gocollect.com/the-house-is-set-to-lose-its-mouse
If you liked this video and want see what's new, follow me on my Instagram with this link : instagram.com/hydracollectables
Thank you for watching my "Disney's Micky Mouse - Public Domain 2023" Youtube video. It means a lot to me.
#HydraCollectables #mickeymouse #disney
You'd be correct in assuming that items would enter the public domain on a yearly basis, but Disney and their Smart and Powerful Lawyers had put a stop to it all!
In 1998, works from 1922 were about to enter the public domain. This concerned the likes of Disney.
Disney feared that they would soon lose control over some of their most beloved and profitable characters, most notably Mickey Mouse, and decided to take action. They decided to lean upon the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act and had the law changed in their favour.
In court, they successfully changed the Copyright Act of 1976 to be the life of the author plus 75yrs. (This was previously 56yrs.) Therefore, giving themselves around 20yrs to play with short term and hopefully come up with a new rescue plan.
Works of a Corporate Authorship were also amended in their favour and would from then be extended to 120yrs. Works before 1978 would be 95yrs from the first publication.
This, of course, not only protected their beloved Mickey but also every other IP they have since created.
Read my full article over on the GoCollect Blog:
blog.gocollect.com/the-house-is-set-to-lose-its-mouse
If you liked this video and want see what's new, follow me on my Instagram with this link : instagram.com/hydracollectables
Thank you for watching my "Disney's Micky Mouse - Public Domain 2023" Youtube video. It means a lot to me.
#HydraCollectables #mickeymouse #disney
