The Mouse is Free. It's Public Domain Day 2024.

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Today is Public Domain Day 2024. It's time for Mickey Mouse to lose his copyright.
Like the mic? Check out Earthworks ETHOS: earthworksaudi...

[@austinmcconnell]

We're making a cartoon based on public domain characters! Support it here: bit.ly/CatManKICK

[@GeoBlits]

THE MOUSE REVOLT HAS BEGUN !✊✊✊

[@CatchTheMarmosets]

The mouse revolt has begun

[@BrodyDoesStufff]

First reply... I guess, hey listen if ur actually first it just didn't load 4 me

[@ninleyarchival]

如果你翻译了这个，那么你很可能会被破坏。如果你不想承受这种困境的后果，那么你必须在老鼠爬进来之前分享这个。🎉🎉🎉😊😊😊 这些表情符号使得这被伪装成一个以老小鸡为食的骗局。但是无论哪种方式。匆忙！为了你自己！！！！！！！

[@Abs0luteCha0s]

Intellectual property isn’t real property! Only physical property is!

[@LemonToGo]

The most ironic thing is that Disney got much of its own popularity by working with characters and stories from the public domain...

[@morganb8250]

Weren’t they technically just European fairy tales? I don’t think there was a copyright on Cinderella and Snow White.

[@Ealais76]

@@morganb8250when the system was invented they immediatly enter the public domain, because they were old enough

[@VunderGuy]

The irony from anti-copyright idiots like you is that you don't understand that there weren't a lot of players in Disney's sphere at the time which gave them carte blanche to make works based on classic stories so iconic and singular no idiots using the public domain alone could ever match without the comparison from the onset. For further irony, you fail to understand that Disney from the get go has made creating their own stuff or legally purchasing someone else's stuffconveniently

[@mirjanbouma]

​@@morganb8250 You could argue that they are therefore public domain.

[@shlokwaghela9560]

Never thought about that but yeah, pretty crazy

[@augustdeer]

Watching Steamboat Willie appear on the front page of Wikipedia was awesome to see in real-time.

[@rachelhughes8487]

Can't say I've ever actually seen the front page to Wikipedia lol.

[@Conner21dumb]

wikipedia has a front page?

[@augustdeer]

@@rachelhughes8487 Oh, it's pretty cool. They always feature a few articles that are interesting if you like going down random research rabbit-holes.

[@Whyyoulooking45]

Bro really just sat there for news years like 👁️👄👁️

[@alex.g7317]

I bet reading school dictionary’s is your idea of a vacation. /j

[@Nerfyboy800]

Disney themselves got big in the first place thanks to their own adaptations of public domain stories. So the fact that they are now it's worst enemy is quite ironic. They used the public domain to destroy the public domain.

[@kena4977]

It isn't ironic. It's modern capitalism. Use the current rules to make money, then use that money to maintain a monopoly.

[@noseboop4354]

Greed is ungrateful to the hand that feeds it.

[@kylespevak6781]

Been said to death, but it's basic business. Use a hack to get ahead, cut off that hack so no one can overtake you

[@m.ostrowski2031]

⁠@@kena4977 Capitalism, or rather, the free market is a term used to describe an economy with little restriction that is primarily facilitated through supply and demand. At its most fundamental level it is the ability for individuals and individual (private) owned companies to compete in the economy. Most countries in the world, including America are mixed economies. Disney is a publicly traded corporation, it is not private nor capitalistic, and collaboration with politicians to create legislation which restricts competition is not a quality of capitalism.

[@BewareTheLilyOfTheValley]

Rules for thee, not for me 🙄.

[@RiseOfTheKumquat67]

2024 is gonna be the year that Steamboat Willie gets put in horror movies and hentai and whatever else they can think of to insult Disney. Now 2025 is the REAL big year, because that's when we can legally get Steamboat Willie/Popeye the Sailor Man team ups.

[@lost3633]

This is going to be fun to watch how this will go down

[@seaotter4439]

I thought Popeye was already in the public domain because Max Fleischer Studios never renewed their copyright

[@matthewrease2376]

Why wouldn't that already be in porn? That stuff isn't regulated...

[@Platitudinous9000]

Literally a developer already has a Mickey Mouse horror game in the works and waited until today to announce it

[@Ravendarkwytch]

‘Just when you thought it was safe to take a steamboat down the Mississippi River…Mickey becomes a murderer’

[@danielgadsden7543]

Interestingly in the UK, Peter Pan's copyright has not, and will not ever, expired. This is due to a special exemption it received, since the Author left all future profits to Charity.

[@sillygo0oser]

That’s actually lovely

[@davitdavid7165]

What if they do a copy-left with it, so everyone can do a Peter pan, but should also donate to charity

[@oliverbrownlow5615]

I believe that law only applies in the UK, and only to Barrie's original stage play.

[@thischannelhasbeenabandoned420]

​@@yankis.That's a ridiculous statement. Public domain is a good thing.

[@poudink5791]

@@davitdavid7165 that's not how copyleft works. copyleft is licensing under a license that allows free use as long as any work making use of your work is also using a free license. like cc-by-sa or the gpl.

[@blackattack1840]

That 1930s style MOUSE FPS game is about to have the BEST secret boss or protag reveal.

[@ryanroscoe673]

prob

[@yeeyeeyeeye]

They have the opportunity to do the funniest thing right now.

[@ender7278]

That was definitely a calculated move.

[@TheMellowMutantShow]

Right

[@salvation7362]

When gaming companies stop supporting games and close down servers they should then automatically become public domain. If you're not going to sell, distribute or make an effort to preserve something then it should be handed over to the public to save it from obscurity.

[@Granolora]

That's actually a thing with video games, it's a loophole in video game copyright known by some as the abandonware clause, which exists because the infringer can only be sued for any theoretical damages caused by the unauthorised distribution, and if a game isn't being actively distributed officially, there are no real damages to speak of, so companies usually don't bother at that point.

[@superplushtiman7ti075]

@@Granolora which begs the question of what happens when the company goes under and nobody buys their assets before then

[@mirjanbouma]

Abandonware is a bit of a grey area (last i checked) but coming after you for sharing copies of a game that isn't sold anymore has not (yet?) been successfully done by any developer or publisher of digital games AFAIK. If any of the above is incorrect, please feel free to @ me! My dive into this rabbit hole has been a while and legislation changes.

[@headphonesaxolotl]

@@Granolora I think this doesn't always apply- Disney can (and does) sue and remove Club Penguin private servers and fangames, yet both the original and Island games have been shut down and Disney no longer uses the franchise despite holding the rights to it.

[@jonathanwright8025]

You're dammn right. Same with books, movies, tv shows - if you arn't using it, there should be no reason to stop others.

[@LouMurk]

Superman and Batman becoming public domain in 10 years is about to be insane.

[@mateushenriquepinheiro3197]

I'm excited to see what people will do with them, because we can't have a 'blood and honey' situation with most DC characters because DC themselves have made evil and horror versions of these characters, superman has had a bunch of evil versions through the last half century so I can't see people trying to make more of this because it is already becoming somewhat stale, same applies to Batman to a much larger extent thanks to elseworld stories and the horror theme that has become a part of Batman as a whole. I personally can't wait for when they go to public domain because Marvel will be able to put them in their comic universe, in 10 years... Spiderman teaming up with Superman and Batman regularly could be within our reach... The world's finest will be in our hands

[@americanbadass88]

Supermans first appearance in Action Comics will be the one entering public domain. which means we can get superman #1 for FREE comic book collectors will be TICKED. if anyones sitting on those for investments better unload them soon.....

[@ImCurrentlyNaked]

The exciting thing about those characters going public domain is that they're still heavily used by their owners. The problem with the current system is that by the time these properties become public domain, they're usually no longer beloved, recognised, or relevant to the public zeitgeist anymore - whereas superman and batman very much are; so I'm curious how that would not only effect how DC uses these character going forward, but how the public will handle these characters too.

[@N313GrayFox]

​​@@mateushenriquepinheiro3197First off: tacky. 2nd: They'll be able to put the very basic versions from their first comics. No iconic logos (trademark), Superman couldn't fly back then, had no Kryptonite, Batman has no Alred, batmobile was just a normal car, etc.

[@thegodofalldragons]

​@@N313GrayFoxKryptonite came from the radio program, as did Jimmy Olsen, Perry White, and the Daily Planet. And if the prevailing legal theory is correct, all old radio programs are public domain (not sure what the reason is; I think it's because they don't have the then-required valid copyright notices?). If you wait a couple more years, you get redhead Lex Luthor and x-ray vision. Plus the Fleischer cartoons are also public domain. So for Superman, you'd actually get a pretty extensive toy box to use almost right off the bat.

[@Arcademan09]

This needs to happen for videogames. If a company/publisher isn't selling their older games or giving people an easier (legal) way to access it then let it go to the public domain. Tell me what "lost sales" are happening when you emulate Madden '98 or Chameleon Twist 2

[@h4724-q6j]

It would be happening if the length of copyright were as short as it should be. Intellectual property law in general is a completely broken system that holds back our creative and intellectual development as a species massively.

[@jankbunky4279]

Totally agreed. Should be criminal to just nearly forget about your own copyrighted material, only to then gatekeep it when someone makes a *fan game* about it or something.

[@shoe_plays]

estimating on the original 1909 copyright law, we could've seen magnavox odyssey games be in the public domain (if copyright for games works like that)

[@Arcademan09]

@@shoe_plays why exactly don't they? Is it because video games weren't invented yet?

[@h4724-q6j]

@@Arcademan09 because it was repealed and superseded by the Copyright Act of 1976.

[@aguynamednathan]

Can't wait to see Micky bouncing around at that wheel for hours to the sound of LoFi beats

[@OlgaHampton-q5t]

Lofi beats to sail a boat/get a girlfriend to 😂

[@TheMellowMutantShow]

😂

[@heron2]

This should be a yearly video! An overview of the public domain for the coming year

[@TheMellowMutantShow]

that'd be interesting

[@noel-ts3jr]

Let's give the public domain some more love! As a writer and artist, I do not feel threatened by it, despite the fact "loosening copyright" can be a scary concept for people these days with the AI problem. The public domain allowed me to complete my literature degree as many of the mandatory texts were free to read online! It has enabled and encouraged my creativity and, with books being so expensive nowadays, it is a welcome tool for everybody. Also, screw disney.

[@wandereringshadow8658]

Plus the mere fact that after your dead, who will copyright really benefit in almost a hundred years? If I was a creative, I wouldn't want my great-grandchildern to be deadbeats coasting off my legacy. I would want them to get out there and make something of themselves, write their own creative venture. Heck, even expand upon my original works if they so choose to. The Doyle Estate is a good example of how greed can tarnish the reputation of a family name though, and it'd be best if Copyright was just heavily laxed alltogether.

[@madkoala2130]

I also see public domain as "end of the cannon". Like if you want to protect your copyright from any future "rewrites" then make anyone can use so none can be taken seriously, because it not from original copyright holder.

[@ihaventgrownaspine9994]

When you put it that way, that's another reason why public domain is extremely helpful, especially regarding academics and personal/creative pursuits ^^

[@joshuapittman4663]

Imo as an artist, musician, and producer, I personally think that copyright shouldn’t exist and it definitely shouldn’t hold a penal penalty if infringed. Like it’s stupid that copyright infringement can be a 5 year sentence, but in Ohio if someone were yo attempt to pay a minor to sleep with them it only carries a maximum of 3 years. According to the law it is more serious to infringe upon someone’s intellectual property than it is to be a predator… Disney themselves only exist because of the public domain since most of their intellectual properties are adaptations of public domain material.

[@Kuudere-Kun]

This is exactly why Disney spent so much of the 2010s buying properties with more recent creation dates. Anyone can create a Mickey now but only Disney can create a Mickey shaped Stormtrooper helmet.

[@KasumiKenshirou]

Also why they created derivative versions of some of their characters like the Miles Morales version of Spider-Man. Due to the way the copyright extensions are written, it was a possibility that Marvel could've lost Spider-Man to co-creator Steve Ditko's heirs. They two parties recently settled their dispute so they don't really need Miles Morales anymore.

[@RasinnFlakes]

I LITERALLY HAVE A SHIRT WITH MICKEY WEARING A STORMTROOPER HELMET LMAOO

[@Quaquadaqu]

@@KasumiKenshiroumiles morales was created before Disney bought marvel.

[@moondoor9031]

In my opinion, Mickey is one of the most dangerous characters to use in a New project or anything. Even if his first version is now in Public Domain... I wish to see a new project made by Austin with this version of Mickey.

[@sirmrman1]

I'd just give him blue pants to be safe

[@roberine7241]

yeah the new mickey looks so similar to the old one I could see disney trying to sue everyone that decides to use him

[@ppprime98K]

@@roberine7241 Give em' a new hat and dont make the personality to appeal 4yo and you safe

[@groofay]

Yep, considering almost everybody alive has the more modern iterations of Mickey Mouse burned into their long-term memory, if you even by mistake put an aspect of him into the work, Disney will go after you.

[@MNSweet]

2024: The Battle for Etsy Public Doman.

[@KibitoAkuya]

Fun fact, a Food company in Paraguay actually uses Mickey's face as their logo and to this day Disney has failed to stop them (they have actually lost in court against them even) Fittingly, the company's brand is...Mickey

[@Cecilias]

i find that really funny tbh

[@KasumiKenshirou]

I read about that. In that country Disney hadn't used it as a trademark yet so there was nothing they could do.

[@theangrynerd101]

@@KasumiKenshirou Lmao I love that

[@jackyex]

​@lu0z9_the_Inot the same, those are ilegal and are copyright infringement, the case in Paraguay is funny ybecsuse they got the actual right to use Mickey's face as their logo, although only the face facing left funnily enough, front facing Mickey is Disney's property.

[@sweetsweetalib4857]

Hi Austin! They might be a nightmare to use, but most of Charlton Comics characters like Peacemaker, Blue Beetle (Ted Kord), and The Question are all in the public domain and can be used in your superzeroes universe!

[@mateushenriquepinheiro3197]

Really? Damn now I want a video explaining how in the world that's possible

[@CSLucasEpic]

Yes. But Austin has already made a video where he decided the characters he will use in his Superzeroes universe. Which are: Atlas, The Spider Queen, Catman, Blue Bolt, Landor, the Six-Gun Gorilla and little Red Ridding Hood.

[@SpectacularSpidey670]

you are just lying, its not possible to use them

[@ImCurrentlyNaked]

I'm pretty sure all three are owned by DC, and their copyright is still active - in fact, the watchmen comic was supposed to include these characters, but DC got cold feet at the idea of killing some of them having just bought them, and thus Moore (the watchmen writer) created knock-off versions that are probably more well known now.

[@74oshua]

DC definitely owns the trademark for those characters, so I'm pretty sure you'd have to avoid mentioning them by name

[@coolrobin]

My favorite example of public domain adaptation is easily Little Shop of Horrors Went from a decent B horror movie to a Broadway musical made musical movie

[@gr6e]

Ironic how a law made to protect creators from big business ended up protecting big business from creators. Can't wait to see what a new generation of artists can do with this character without being under a corporate chokehold.

[@Broswald_Inc]

Think about this.... in 95 years this video will be public domain.

[@zoeherriot]

Are you saying he’s going to die soon? The copyright law (since he’s not anonymous) is after his death +70 years.

[@Broswald_Inc]

@@zoeherriot No? It's death +70 years or 95 years after release. If yours was true Mickey wouldn't be public domain until 2036.

[@zoeherriot]

@@Broswald_Inc no. “The term of copyright for a particular work depends on several factors, including whether it has been published, and, if so, the date of first publication. As a general rule, for works created after January 1, 1978, copyright protection lasts for the life of the author plus an additional 70 years. For an anonymous work, a pseudonymous work, or a work made for hire, the copyright endures for a term of 95 years from the year of its first publication or a term of 120 years from the year of its creation, whichever expires first. “ - copyright dot gov I presume Mickey comes under “work for hire” - or it’s covered by different rules due its creation date.

[@WXKFA]

​@@Broswald_IncYou are confusing individual vs corporate copyrights.

[@Broswald_Inc]

@@WXKFA ok

[@aruce9]

Eisner failed to protect the rat from entering the public domain, new let’s reverse the Sonny bono act and start making public domain law better

[@Person-wz6iy]

And hey next year even more Mickey Mouse cartoons will enter the public domain! Such as Plane Crazy and The Karnival Kid, where Mickey spoke for the first time.

[@thatonepossum5766]

Wait… could they technically argue that until next year anything made with Mickey has to have him be mute? xD

[@-Teague-]

​@@thatonepossum5766probably not, but I wouldn't be surprised if they tried it.

[@-Teague-]

​@@thatonepossum5766The only way I could see having him speak being a problem is if you use a voice that's too similar to one they've used for him before

[@kuikulisorsa]

Silent version of Plane Crazy is already public domain as of 2024. With Music version next year 2025

[@barneylaurance1865]

@@thatonepossum5766 No, surely they can't rightly claim to own the very idea of mickey talking. But they do own the specific writing and performance of the voice used in their cartoons, so copying that is restricted.

[@RedUmbre]

growing up characters like Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog were in so many dirty vulgar parodies online it gave a sense that they were almost like folkloric characters that were a launchpad for the creativity of young people. I used to make mario romhacks and it taught me everything I know about computers. Hell I learned how to draw by drawing mario.

[@dexstewart862]

My idea is to do a League of Extraordinary Gentlemen style story with Sherlock Holmes, Winnie the Pooh and the Metropolis robot going on adventures aboard Mickey's steamboat.

[@hipsterelephant2660]

Not a bad idea

[@kristofertaft194]

Loved that movie!

[@Quaquadaqu]

Sounds embarrassing

[@fiddleriddlediddlediddle]

"Sure, public domain means that plenty of less-than-satisfying adaptations can be made" Because we all know that copyright holders never produce anything unsatisfying. Looking at you, Star Wars.

[@KasumiKenshirou]

He makes this point because tons of people are wringing their hands and writing about how Mickey falling into the public domain is a tragedy because not-so-family-friendly works will now be created.

[@MNSweet]

Thank you! You are the first person I've watched on this topic in the past year who has mentioned the Trademark. MickeyViews and DSNY Newcast were the only others who went deeper into discussing how the new Disney Studios movie intro strategically took the whistling frames from Steamboat Willie and used it in their Trademarks to protect that arrangement of frames making it so you can play the entire video but not just that section as it would violate the TM. Disney plays 5D chess: Space, Time, and Legal Positioning.

[@zymosan99]

thats fucked up

[@neoqwerty]

@@zymosan99 Disney managed to copyright public domain characters, what'd you expect from them?

[@crazyfire9470]

It’s smart

[@greenwarrior33]

I am glad Michael Mouse is free for public use. God bless the public domain

[@boredyoutubeuser]

Hey Vsauce, Michael Mouse here. Steam Boat Willy is copyright protected, or is he?...

[@jeremyriley1238]

The Steamboat Wilie version, not the more modern version we see in cartoons like Mickey Mouse Funhouse.

[@MNSweet]

Only Minerva calls him that.

[@Halcon_Sierreno]

Just hope that there are GOOD uses for the character instead of just continual shit posts.

[@ZoeBateman]

wild to think that the original version of walt disney's fursona finally belongs to the public

[@ride-playerbb2818]

He's OUR fursona now

[@ZoeBateman]

@@ride-playerbb2818 publicly assigned mandatory fursona

[@marktheshark7588]

I really admire what you're doing with the public domain golden age superheroes,Austin.Happy New Year🎉

[@llewelynshingler2173]

Will Mickey become a background character in the Superzeroes?

[@macsnafu]

Yeah, I'm still upset with Disney for getting the copyright term extended. But as you pointed out, even though Steamboat Willie is finally in the public domain, that doesn't allow for just any Mickey Mouse material to be created--there are still limits. And also as you pointed out, there's still trademarks. But what's really going to be interesting is digging into all the lesser known material that became public domain for lost treasures. Material that's been legally restricted from use because of the length of the copyright term.

[@johntracy72]

But trademark can't be used to resurrect an expired copyright, so Disney is on shaky ground.

[@joenorsworthy]

Remember that Walt Disney built his empire retelling his own animated version of stories that were in the public domain.

[@Untolddead]

Disney has destroyed the copyright system. Corporate dragons sitting on copyright hoards.

[@johntracy72]

Smaug hoarding his gold.

[@REELWORKS12923]

I’ve always had a weird fascination with wanting to make a steamboat willie horror film. Something about “doing it good for once” or whatever. Honestly it could be good if it’s used as a context for the fall of industry. Anything but made for money haha.

[@Halcon_Sierreno]

Make something that's actually good.

[@KasumiKenshirou]

I think somebody is already doing the horror film.

[@ImCurrentlyNaked]

Would have been cool if you had shown a list/run-down of all the stuff in the public domain this year - maybe something you can do next time?

[@I_Love_Learning]

If you'd like, Wikipedia has a list of every major thing entering the public domain this year. Check something along the lines of "Public Domain in 2024"

[@Sekir80]

Check Steve Shives then.

[@phoneheaded]

The Duke School of Law releases a run down of everything that entered the public domain every year. Austin took much of the information in this video from that article and others on their site. Just look up 'public domain day' to find their webpage.

[@asfdlfaadsfrst]

Good idea, @imcurrentlynaked

[@krissmgvlogs]

Do you need to be spoon fed everything. A short google search will give you the answer.

[@Apanblod]

News: "Vintage Mickey Mouse to become public domain as of 2024!" Disney: 🧐 News: "Copyright laws related to public domain to see a drastic overhaul as of 2024!"

[@BroadwayRonMexico]

At most, they could try and keep later iterations of Mickey from falling into public domain, but what's gone into PD cant be copyrighted, apart from iterative differences between derived works. But considering their recent difficulties and internal woes, i dont think theyre in the same position to lobby as hard as they used to. It seems they're taking the approach of aggressively trademarking instead. Which means you can use Mickey, but only Disney can put him in their logo and monetize his likeness in anything branded.

[@Coffeepanda294]

Would be wonderful to live in a world where for example Star Wars was public domain, and anyone who wanted to could make remakes, video games, fan films, etc. I mean, to a certain degree they can, but they have to be indie and non-commercial enough for _Lucasfilm_ Disney not to care. Imagine all the cool stuff fans could make if they were given free reins.

[@noseboop4354]

Touhou is a great example of this, that universe is majorly built up by the fans, although technically it isn't in the public domain but the creator pretty much allows any and all fan works.

[@trajectoryunown]

Star Wars _used to be_ close to that, until Disney attacked the Expanded Universe and eclipsed the canon by ignoring countless hours of work by hundreds, if not thousands of dedicated creators just to shoehorn their nonsensical retcons.

[@thegodofalldragons]

I'd honestly rather see people make new stuff. Star Wars doesn't need to be public domain to take inspiration from it. I mean, Star Wars itself started from George Lucas wanting to make a Flash Gordon movie.

[@paraax]

This is why strong copyright should exist for no more than 50 years. The strongest properties would experience a new life while the people whom it meant the most to were alive. The copyright system creates great things, but also denies us masterpieces that die with the generation who knew the works best.

[@dabatman5187]

I really pray that copyright will be fixed in the US. Unironicly the current copyright has ruined movies, and art, cause now companies are contempt at just thriving off of their old works instead of making something new

[@skygodofallurya]

Copyright is to protect artists and creators. The fact that some faceless corporation gets to hold copyright long after the person who made the work is dead and in the grave, strangling every last dollar out of something it had no hand in creating, is ridiculous. Copyright should be (life of the artis+10 years) or something similar, with only the artist and their estate being able to profit from it.

[@ponodude101]

You totally should put some version of Mickey somewhere in your cinematic universe. It'd be so fun!

[@jer1776]

The fact we live in a country where Disney can just buy legislation like that is a joke.

[@Guy-cb1oh]

They can't. Disney's lobbying influence has been greatly exaggerated.

[@59hawks]

Fun fact someone went through all Steam boat Willy related promotion. With this they have found that Mickey can wear red shorts, doesn't need a hat, and can wear brownish yellow shoes and its not a breach of copyright. Due to posters.

[@josephwodarczyk977]

Related thing: Sherlock Holmes is only an ass in the public domain books. So everyone today is legally required to make him cold.

[@napalmwolf1728]

Now it’s OUR turn to own something you cherish Disney

[@Quaquadaqu]

Wow you showed them

[@willg125]

Interestingly, there was an all girls Catholic school in Philadelphia that had the 1928 mickey mouse as their mascot. They were granted permission by Disney in 1930, surprisingly. The school closed in 2021, but the painted renditions still line the walls in the old building.

[@LJ4Tasyo]

Here's my pitch, It's basically the Disney Jungle Cruise movie. Same cast. The Rock's character is named Steamboat Willie, and he never wears a shirt.

[@ZetaReticuli1.]

niiiice

[@grampsinsl5232]

It's insane that an author's great-grandchildren, who never even met the author, get royalties and licensing fees for whatever the author created decades before they were even born. Just completely nuts.

[@mercster]

You're thinking about this wrong; because you're a precision-designed consumer who is always worried about what YOU get for doing nothing. Think about it this way: "If you come up with something unique and great, it will be protected for you and your family for a long time. We don't allow people who are the true innovators to be shamelessly ripped off as soon as they create something. America rewards success." I know this hasn't occurred to you, because the only thing you've created is something your mother taped to the fridge when you were in kindergarten. (Edit: typos.)

[@ComfortsSpecter]

God Forbid People Get The Rewards They Deserve I’m Literally Crying Oh Muh Gaw What The Hell Kinda Thinking Is That?

[@gdizzzl]

Lots of commies in chat

[@ianerickson2210]

build a legacy. its not nuts lmao

[@sericsmith5770]

As much as I agree that certain parts of copyright law are ridiculously stringent, I don't think there's too much if anything wrong with that, depending on the situation. If you're talking about corporations, sure, but isn't it quite common for family estates to get passed down from generation to generation? If so, why not the relatives of artists or writers? Not trying to defend the worst parts of copyright law. Just saying.

[@JordisYoutubing]

Only works published before 1978 have 95 year copyright. Everything after is Life of Author plus 70 years in the USA unless it was made for hire.

[@diddyphukkingkong393]

Corporate works still get a 95-year copyright term. If it's non-corporate work, then it gets the 70-year term.

[@JordisYoutubing]

@@diddyphukkingkong393 Only ‘works for hire’ get 95 years, which isn’t what he said.

[@diddyphukkingkong393]

​@@JordisYoutubing I'm aware of that. What do I care what he said.

[@JordisYoutubing]

@@diddyphukkingkong393 You replied to ME who was mentioning something HE said.

[@DawidSikora]

The current copyright law is insane. Even having 20 years of protecton since creation would be more than enough to earn billions of dollars for the corporation

[@oliverbrownlow5615]

Many copyrights are owned by individual authors or creators.

[@thegodofalldragons]

20 years isn't even long enough for One Piece to finish. Also: there wouldn't be a Star Wars with such a short copyright, because George Lucas would've just made a Flash Gordon movie instead.

[@duomaxwell6523]

It's been a LONG...LONG...LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG time coming, but welcome to the Public Domain, Mickey Mouse! You're free at last from your almost-100-years-old copyright jail! Actually...you should've BEEN out of your copyright jail DECADES ago!

[@ReddyToAnimate]

It’s not the first time an old school Disney cartoon like Steamboat Willie entered the public domain. Others had reached the public domain as well like some Donald cartoons (Toy Tinkers, Donald VS The Gorilla and Cured Duck for example), some Goofy cartoons (Hockey Homicide, Fathers Are People and Baggage Buster for example), some Pluto cartoons (Dog Watch, T-Bone For Two and Pluto’s Pledging for example) and some Silly Symphonies cartoons (Funny Little Bunnies, The Three Little Pigs and Susie The Little Blue Coupe for example). Heck, even some of the Mickey Mouse cartoons like Moving Day, Mickey’s Rival and Moose Hunters for example got the same treatment too.

[@samnelson7428]

Also it doesn't even decrease the incentive or pay for the writer. There is literally zero incentive for an exec to pay someone more because they know they'll own the work 90 years after they die instead of 80, or 200, because the exec will not be alive then. Publisher's interests are within the lifepsans of those who own them. The author loses nothing, no incentive is lost, and I'd bet almost all artists would rather people be eventually able to use their work, they have no reason to want the publisher to control it forever, they gain nothing from that. Fanfiction is the ultimate vindication of a writer.

[@iantaakalla8180]

If the work is bad, fanfiction is the ultimate condemnation of a work and an author. That is equivalent to saying “you and your work is a joke at best and a blight on average, and here is why”.

[@alanw737]

I can’t imagine the tsunami of weird shit that will be incoming.

[@blockybaconman1413]

I do sincerely hope that many of the copyright extensions get repealed. They do little but stagnate innovation.

[@jer1776]

Disney lobbyists would never allow it.

[@ranelgallardo7031]

@@jer1776Also It’s not just Disney as you see in the video. Comcast, Paramount, Warner Bros, and sports leagues will fight that too.

[@Quaquadaqu]

It stagnates innovation not letting you use other people’s ip’s? Why don’t you do some innovating yourself and come up with some original ideas, or is that too hard?

[@jer1776]

​@@Quaquadaqu Many people are afraid to do just that because of potential lawsuits from copyright trolls because something could be seen as too close to an existing work. Even if you think the original 14-28 year is too low, dont you think 40 or 50 years is better, especially to prevent old works from being lost to time?

[@CSLucasEpic]

Remember everbody, its not just Sreamboat Willie, but also Plane Crazy, the other Mickey short Disney made in 1928.

[@Voc_spooksauce]

FUCK the copyright system, hopefully one day it will change

[@mercster]

You're thinking about this wrong; because you're a precision-designed consumer who is always worried about what YOU get for doing nothing. Think about it this way: "If you come up with something unique and great, it will be protected for you and your family for a long time. We don't allow people who are the true innovators to be shamelessly ripped off as soon as they create something. America rewards success." I know this hasn't occurred to you, because the only thing you've created is something your mother taped to the fridge when you were in kindergarten.

[@spookybookworm3063]

Isn't the current copyright system rewarding people for doing nothing? Why should some lazy uncreative person get a paycheck for being distantly related to someone who actually did something remarkable? Talk about a participation trophy... Two of my great-grandfathers were writers. I cannot imagine collecting any sort of praise or benefit for their work. I was never involved in any capacity.

[@lwinklly]

Big fan of copyright reform. Get rid of it! Public domain ALL THE THINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Hurtle885hu8bu]

Slight correction because nobody mentions this, but Steamboat Willie is not the only Mickey cartoon that’s now in the public domain. Two silent cartoons called “Plane Crazy” and “The Gallopin’ Gaucho” also starring Mickey and Minnie, are public domain now too.

[@christopher9727]

... Jesus Christ saves He had mercy on me he can save all who all seek him today He made away through calvery repent of all sins today Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Come to Jesus Christ today Jesus Christ is only way to heaven Repent and follow him today seek his heart Jesus Christ can fill the emptiness he can fill the void Heaven and hell is real cone to the loving savior today Today is the day of salvation tomorrow might be to late come to the loving savior today Holy Spirit can give you peace purpose and joy and his will today John 3:16-21 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. Mark 1.15 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Hebrews 11:6 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Jesus

[@joaocalhandro]

2:50 "mostly everybody assumed [...] some 11th hour piece of legislation would be introduced... " Most people worry about the 23rd hour though. Lol

[@r3n3gad33]

Shrek 5 is in production meaning Dreamworks could have access to the perfect villain.

[@imaniislander755]

Happy new years to all and to all a fun mickey adaption!!!!🥳🥳🥳🥳

[@imaniislander755]

39 minutes in

[@nikaoharbour6962]

Steamboat willie in Moby Dick part 2: Moby's Revenge! Starring Kevin Costner

[@thetman0068]

Imagine an indie company making a “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” style film with all the upcoming public domain early cartoon characters.

[@arnowisp6244]

That would be nice but the challenge is that they might as well have used Original Characters as most of those are Unknowns anyways.

[@vtc193]

I want to see a needlessly gritty reboot where Steamboat Willie is a longshoreman with a failing marriage who gets pulled into doing one last mission for the government.

[@4fives992]

It's going to be very interesting what comes out of Steamboat Willie being in the public domain.

[@JamesLawner]

Felix the Cat’s early shorts are in the public domain, won’t someone make a “Felix Vs. Mickey: Dawn of Sound” a reality?? 😭🙏🏼

[@CptnCobblestone]

I think the start of this will force Disney to start innovating and less repeating of the same IPs. Steamboat Willy, as well as Mickey Mouse, is a beloved favorite, but they can’t rely on it for life. They need to be pushed to creative new things. Public domain is good for that

[@Quaquadaqu]

How does Disney rely on steamboat Willie or Mickey Mouse other than him being a logo? Disney has many ip’s more valuable than Mickey.

[@CptnCobblestone]

@@Quaquadaqu Read your last sentence and take a walk through Disneyland or Disneyworld. It is abundantly clear that the mouse carries the weight of the entire company. It is because he’s the logo and mascot that gives the company it’s overall branding. The marketing, the kids shows, the merchandise, everything. If you walk around Florida, even on the outskirts of orlando, it is extremely common to see people wearing Mickey Mouse shirts. They’ve even got subliminal advertising down pat. When you rely on one thing, you will inevitably stunt your growth and come to a holt creatively. They will continue to milk the mouse for everything it has. Force of IPs into public domain will birth creation. It’s an incredibly big deal.

[@KW-gb9cd]

I just want to know if Warner Bros can now bring back Foxy, the first Merrie Melodies star. He was in three cartoons back in 1931, but then Disney threatened to sue because of how much he looked like Mickey; he wasn't seen again until 1992, in an episode of "Tiny Toon Adventures" that featured a watered-down version of him.

[@Bomber_Fish]

The fanfics of Mickey will now become the official. The game is up, Disney.

[@samym1694]

Disney made Hercules without Copyright Strikes from Greece

[@KillahMate]

The fact that people are asking 'why is Mickey entering the public domain' instead of 'why didn't this happen 50 years ago' is a good indicator of how much corporations have already won the battle to own our culture. And to anyone who still doesn't understand the importance of the public domain, ask yourselves - what would you say is 'classic culture' (Homer, Shakespeare, Bach) and what is 'modern culture' (Beatles, Star Wars, the Marvel Cinematic Universe)? Where is the border that separates the two kinds of culture we experience? I think you'll find that while fuzzy, the border is somewhere in the early 20th century... in fact, probably somewhere in the 1920s. And now you know why.

[@LiveAndLearned]

Southpark is going to love this. They hated the mouse before and just imagein what they can do now!!

[@lokidogproductions1289]

Yup, I would be suprised if disney did not at least try. If not I am sure they are not still upset by it, and probably dread what others will do with free use of steam boat willie.

[@UsernameUsernameson]

95 years is absurd; during this time several generations will change. Most of the lesser known franchises will simply die.

[@austinreed7343]

Well, at least we had people like Alan Moore digging up old, lesser-known stuff.

[@john78tv]

Wonder if this character will make it's way to "Cuphead & Mugman" if they decide to make a sequel.

[@rocketknightx6066]

Finally! Mickey and Minnie are finally free from the abusive company! Walt would be so proud!

[@theincrediblespiderdude5454]

I just hope Mickey eventually appear in your cinematic universe.

[@RipVanFish09]

As a person who loves Disney movies, I see this as an absolute win, because Disney absolutely sucks. They make good stuff, but suck. Screw you, Disney!

[@itsrickyschannel.]

The thing that always struck me about Disney and its fight with the public domain is that Disney was founded on Public Domain content. Many Walt Disney works were adapted or inspired by stuff in the public domain such as the companys adaptations of Snow White, Frozen (The Snow Queen), Tangled (Repunzel) and even Cinderella, would probably not exist if it wasnt for the public domain.

[@RedYellowBird6889]

How interesting never thought i would live to see the day but here we our that damn mouse finally left disney's hands, well one version that is but we take our wins where we can get them.

[@StyleshStorm]

6:00 "It allows us to breathe new life into stories" Something I've been doing with a underrated female fighting game character that bandai bamco games forsakened so I rescued her.

[@srksii]

We need: 10 hours of hand drawing mickey mouse video!

[@vrclckd-zz3pv]

0:00 You're right, Austin. I never thought Tom Scott would retire, but here we are 😭

[@DarthSmirnoff]

Can't wait for Mickey Mouse to show up in some bootleg Street Fighter knockoff.

[@oliverbrownlow5615]

Guess what else just entered the public domain? *Steamboat Bill, Jr.* (1928), the Buster Keaton movie of which *Steamboat Willie* is a parody. Keaton's movie, in turn, took its title from a popular song written in 1911 (which, of course, is also in the public domain).

[@nadeoki]

I really like the "oled" apprechiation of this color grading. Question, what black value cut-off was used in this video to achieve the strong black tone of the background and on the microphone?

[@turnonmyaxel]

It isn't just Steamboat Mickey, it's also Mickey from Gallopin' Gaucho (though there is contraversy because when the copyright was registered) and Plane Crazy without sound

[@simonagree4070]

This one should be called "Dan O'Neil/Air Pirates Day"!

[@soulfuzz368]

Abolish IP. That’s all, have a great new year

[@lwinklly]

Rare good take in the comments, hell yeah

[@dstinnettmusic]

I see a lot of people saying Disney made it big because of public domain works. This is true in a lot of ways, but it is worth noting that Disney was in cartoons long before their feature length movies and had a lot of their own stuff too (including some of their own cartoons that became owned by other studios.)

[@AmityHardstyle]

I wonder if he'll make an appearance in Bendy, since it fits the game's art style, and the game is about old cartoons.

[@thelastdictator482]

I've always been curious, who likes Mickey? Like as a character based on his own merits, and not just as a mascot for the company that probably owns the things you do like.

[@normanclatcher]

"The Three Musketeers" was the closest I've ever come.

[@naota3k]

"Humans are at their best when they are able to share information and stories."

[@calibursatsujin3112]

you can bet that you'll still get a copyright strike on youtube if you use any of this though

[@johntracy72]

Some folks have.

[@gibberishname]

The best part of Steamboat Willie is when Mickey Mouse teabags Pete and says "oh boy, I am canonically a sexual harasser"

[@ShinoSarna]

This makes me want to make a platformer starrring Steamboat Mickey called "Fortress of Illusion" that is straight up a fan sequel to Castle of Illusion.

[@Orange_Swirl]

Suggestion: Don't call it Fortress of Illusion (so Disney won't get on your case), AND make it sure it's in the black and white rubberhose style so you can sell it for money. And watch Disney seethe.

[@ShinoSarna]

@@Orange_Swirl I just need to make sure *Mickey* is in black and white rubberhose. And if not Illusion, I can call it the Mirage Castle.

[@EnigmaticGentleman]

You know if our original laws were still intact Nintendo 64 games would enter the PD soon. There are already some excellent mods, but with monetary incentive just imagine how many amazing works would come from that

[@johntracy72]

Chrono Trigger would have become public domain this year under the 1909 copyright system.

[@SnakeRoadComicsOfficial3677]

Open world pirate rpg game with Steamboat Willie as a villain protagonist.

[@rontarrant]

What's really ironic is that Disney based Steamboat Willie on a film by Buster Keaton called, "Steamboat Bill, Jr." He should never have been given a copyright to begin with, but Keaton wasn't paying attention at the time.

[@ranelgallardo7031]

A little update for your video. Viacom is now Paramount Global, TimeWarner is now Warner Bros Discovery, and Universal is under Comcast.

[@Dative420]

Thats cool mickey mouse is public domain but i hope nobody makes a terrible horror movie like winnie the pooh blood and honey

[@jmacku35]

Bro that bitrate at the start 📉