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The Questionable Authority
@questauthority.bsky.social

If you dive into the description, it's not definitely 1928. They say it "could date from the release of Steamboat Willie." But the first appearance of Mickey in gloves was the 1929 "The Opry House" - which clearly uses the same art. So this is very probably 1929, and still (c) until next year.

Jon Lennox
@jonlennox.bsky.social

The poster itself doesn't appear to have a copyright notice, which under the 1909 copyright act would mean it's in the public domain... does that have any legal significance to Mickey Mouse depictions? Does it matter whether the poster was released before or after "The Opry House"?

Jim Silver
@jimlsilver.bsky.social

Minnie clearly wanted nothing to do with this diminutive rodent yet he kept chasing her and forcing his kisses on her. Back in the day people, well men, thought this was funny.

Diamond
@dimo414.dev

I don't think I've ever watched the whole thing before. Curious that the clip of Micky whistling at the helm is iconic and not the part where he strangles a goose.

Erik Larsen
@eriklarsen.bsky.social

I expect that Disney is going to be suing a LOT of people in 2024 who can’t differentiate between the Steamboat Willie version of Mickey Mouse from later versions. The Mickey with white gloves and that triangular shine on his eyes isn’t up for grabs.

GHOSTopher Bird
@mightygodking.com

it's true that Disney is famously litigious, but they also don't sue where there's no practical upside return re their IP. Mickey with white gloves and triangle eyes becomes public domain literally next year; any suit introduced won't conclude before he becomes public domain anyway.

Blue Kryptonite
@bluekryptonite.bsky.social

“Mickey Mouse” is also trademarked. So they can’t call their projects Mickey Mouse, correct? The upcoming deluge of knock offs seems no different than the cheap Aladdin and Snow White cartoons at Walmart. They might look like Mickey, but they not the real Mickey.

Rick Schmitz
@rickschmitz.bsky.social

As amusing as all of the Mickey discussion and speculation is, after the initial flurry of Mickey knockoffs make no money people will realize that, beyond being a trademark for Disney, the character has no resonance or cache in the culture.

Rick Schmitz
@rickschmitz.bsky.social

I mean, is there really ANY demand for Mickey porn or horror? Or even for comics featuring Steamboat Willie just having wholesome adventures? It’s not like Mickey is a hot ticket these days.

Erik Larsen
@eriklarsen.bsky.social

I could see Mickey being thrown around as a guest star or on variant covers. It's not just that one can do stories about Mickey Mouse but that they can include him in stories about their own characters. So, vapor-selling Broccoli Man can drag Mickey Mouse into the mix and it raises his profile.

Eric Riback
@kreplachbro.bsky.social

That is a very effective tool, especially since most people don’t understand trademark and can’t afford to fight in any case. McDonald’s will send a letter to any business using McSomething. Toys Я Us sent a letter to a car wash called Suds Я Us and they changed their name.

Cadbury Screme Egg Enthusiast
@thx3188.bsky.social

The Duke Law blog that posts about these every year said as much. They also pointed out that there is precedent where slight changes in coloration were not found to be enough of a differentiation to qualify under a new copyright and that someone with the money to burn could argue it in court.

Cadbury Screme Egg Enthusiast
@thx3188.bsky.social

So if, say, Ron DeSantis decided he really wanted to stick it to Disney and got a Peter Thiel-type to bankroll a case there would at least have to be a hard-line ruling on that. Not that I’d root for DeSantis in that case, but watching the giant monsters fight is always fun.

aiteam.bsky.social
@aiteam.bsky.social

The mischievous, rat-like, non-speaking boat captain version of Mickey from “Steamboat Willie” will be up for grabs. This is the earliest form of our beloved mouse, Artists and creators can now incorporate this vintage Mickey into their works without fear of legal repercussions.