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Tag: copyright

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NEWS: Disney Accuses Google of “Massive” Copyright Infringement in Cease-and-Desist Letter

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Yesterday, The Walt Disney Company announced an agreement with OpenAI to allow the use of Disney characters in AI content. Before the announcement, Disney sent Google a cease-and-desist letter accusing it of copyright infringement.

©Disney

According to Deadline, Disney sent the cease-and-desist letter on Wednesday, just before the company announced its partnership with OpenAI. Disney accused Google of copyright infringement on a “massive scale” for using Disney’s copyrighted characters in AI-generated content.

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Mom, Can You Pick Us Up? A NEW Steamboat Willie Horror Movie Is Coming and We’re Scared.

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It’s 2024, which means that creatives everywhere are celebrating.

How is it already 2024?!

2024 marks 95 years since 1928, when thousands of copyrighted works — including Steamboat Willie — were created. Since 1928, these pieces of intellectual property (IP) have been cozied up underneath a blanket of copyright protection, but now, that is no more! Yes, Steamboat Willie, recognized as “the original Mickey Mouse,” has entered the public domain — meaning his character and likeness are available to be used by ANYONE. Well, let’s see how that’s going so far.

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January 1st Might Be a SCARY Day for Disney Fans

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Can you imagine a world where Mickey Mouse isn’t a Disney character? We may or may not see this happen.

Hey, Mickey!

In all seriousness, Mickey has been the face of the Walt Disney Company for well over 90 years, since 1928, but come January 1st, 2024, Disney will be facing something that they’ve never faced before — Mickey Mouse will be entering the public domain. Before we go off into the deep end, let’s be clear, not all versions of Mickey will be going to the public domain. So, let’s break it all down.

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Is Disney “Retiring” Mickey Mouse?

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Disney and Mickey Mouse. There’s not a more iconic duo than that… well PB&J might be a close second.

Mickey!

In all seriousness, Mickey has been the face of the Walt Disney Company for well over 90 years, but recently, there have been rumors swirling about Disney “retiring” Mickey in 2024. So let’s dive into these rumors, debunk the misinformation, and shed light on the real story. Let’s go!

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They Made a Horror Film Out of Winnie the Pooh. What Will They Do to Mickey Mouse When He’s in the Public Domain?

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Is there anything more iconic within the Walt Disney Company than Mickey Mouse?

Magician Mickey in Town Square Theater

Mickey has been the star of the Disney show since Steamboat Willie graced our screens in 1928. Since then, the company has been pretty strict about protecting its intellectual property. But soon, the copyright of that animated short will expire. So, what happens then?

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NEWS: U.S. Senator Warns of Bill to End Disney’s “Special Copyright Protections”

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Disney’s name has seldom escaped the news recently.

Mickey Mouse at Chef Mickey’s!

From the situation with Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Bill (which critics call the “Don’t Say Gay” bill) to the dissolution of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, comments made about Disney’s “Reimagine Tomorrow” employee training, and changes in Disney’s communications leadership — there’s been a lot going on. Now, it seems Disney has become the subject of something else and the focus of one particular U.S. Senator.

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Why 2022 Is an IMPORTANT Year for Winnie-the-Pooh and Bambi

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The new year is bringing some major changes to the Disney parks. From upcoming attractions to new technology, there’s always something new around the corner. 2022 marked the end of Disney’s Magical Express, the start of a new Star Wars story, and a whole new era of vacationing in Disney World. But some other changes are happening outside the Disney parks that we need to discuss!

Who’s the leader of the club?

January 1st was Public Domain Day, meaning that a slew of copyrights from 1926 expired and are now classified as public domain. Why does this matter? A few famous stories we know and love are now able to be published, modified, and performed by ANYONE without having to pay a licensing fee. 

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6 Times Disney Fought the Law — and WON.

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Disney is known for a lot of things — incredible films, amazing theme parks and attractions, relaxing cruise adventures, and more.

Magic Kingdom

Disney has faced its fair set of challenges along the way. Sometimes those challenges have come in the form of legal roadblocks or situations that otherwise would have put the company in a tough spot. That’s where the real ingenuity and creativeness of the team at Disney really shines. Sometimes it’s been as simple as using loopholes or unique legal strategies, but other times Disney has LITERALLY changed the law. Today, we’re taking a look at some of those times where Disney didn’t just sit back and follow the ordinary legal requirements but instead made the law work for THEM.

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What Happens When Disney Doesn’t Own Mickey Mouse? Well, THIS.

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Did you know that Disney won’t own Mickey Mouse soon?

Steamboat Willie ©Disney

Yep, it’s true! The copyright to Mickey is set to expire in 2024. The situation is a bit…complicated — but as things stand, other people will be able to use the representation of Steamboat Mickey without copyright ramifications. Now, one brand is looking to profit off of the Mouse in advance.

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What Happens When Disney Doesn’t Own Mickey Mouse Anymore?

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It’s hard to imagine two things that go together more than Disney and Mickey Mouse.

Mickey Mouse

The Mouse and the Walt Disney Company have been intertwined ever since Mickey first debuted in 1928. Now, almost a full century later, the company’s copyright ownership of Mickey has come to an end…at least partially. Wait…so Disney doesn’t own Mickey anymore? HUH? What does that even mean!? We’re breaking it down.

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