Don't Free the Mouse!!!!

Posted: Tuesday, January 21, 2003
By: Darren Schroeder

The folks at reason.com noted that the Supreme Court, in ruling that the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998 was constitutional, has extended the Disney Corporation's strangle hold ownership of Micky Mouse by another 20 years.

No problem you might say. But past experience has shown that Disney takes ownership as meaning no one can do anything with the Mouse. So, while on the one hand Disney make Mickey and friends part of every person's cultural experience just so they can make money, Disney's lawyers make sure creators and artist cannot use the likeness of these icons to comment what they think about this state of affairs.

If only there was some way small press creators, who draw what they want when they want, could show their response to corporate culture.

Legal Discalmier: Neither Darren nor any other staff at SBC told you to include Disney characters in your comics. That would be a very bad idea. Don't do it!



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