Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

What will enter the public domain in 2024?

publicdomainreview.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 201 posts

Re: What will enter the public domain in 2024?

#11

Post by TonyTrapp »

yk wrote: post #3

The mouse via Steamboat Willie is scheduled to enter public domain? Guess we can look forward to quite eventful three weeks before the end of the year, while Disney is frantically trying to prevent that outcome.

They probably realized by now there is not much value left in that old version of Mickey. It's the newer self of Mickey (different looks and character) that brings in the money, but even that is becoming less relevant these days, I think? That's why they have bought so much IP which appeals to more people than Mickey Mouse.

Re: What will enter the public domain in 2024?

#12

Post by mod50ack »

qwertthrowway wrote: post #7

If something is in the public domain, is it still accessible for copying or can companies still profit off of selling public domain material? For example, if I “pirate” a public domain text published by some company, am I in the wrong?

You can sell public domain materials all you want. And whenever anyone else copies stuff in the public domain, even if they copy it from your copy, they're not infringing copyright.

Re: What will enter the public domain in 2024?

#13

Post by mod50ack »

dry_soup wrote: post #9

So the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, who died in 1973, will enter the public domain in New Zealand (and other countries) next year? Or do they not, as he presumably published his works in the UK? Or they enter the public domain in New Zealand et al. but not in other countries?

In Life+50 countries, they'll enter the public domain. In the UK and other Life+70 countries, they won't.

Re: What will enter the public domain in 2024?

#15

Post by ginko »

dry_soup wrote: post #9

So the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, who died in 1973, will enter the public domain in New Zealand (and other countries) next year? Or do they not, as he presumably published his works in the UK? Or they enter the public domain in New Zealand et al. but not in other countries?

What would be the New Zealand connection of Tolkien (other than the peter jackson movies)?

Re: What will enter the public domain in 2024?

#16

Post by mod50ack »

sp0rk wrote: post #6
yk wrote: post #3

The mouse via Steamboat Willie is scheduled to enter public domain? Guess we can look forward to quite eventful three weeks before the end of the year, while Disney is frantically trying to prevent that outcome.

It's my understanding that they still retain a lot of control over Mickey Mouse indefinitely because he is trademarked as the face of their company.

There's a distinction between trademark and copyright, and the ability to imply a Disney source and to include Mickey in your work are not controlled in the same way. Using the 1928 Mouse in your work while making it clear your work doesn't originate with Disney wouldn't violate trademark law.

Re: What will enter the public domain in 2024?

#17

Post by mod50ack »

ginko wrote: post #15
dry_soup wrote: post #9

So the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, who died in 1973, will enter the public domain in New Zealand (and other countries) next year? Or do they not, as he presumably published his works in the UK? Or they enter the public domain in New Zealand et al. but not in other countries?

What would be the New Zealand connection of Tolkien (other than the peter jackson movies)?

There's none. But the validity of a copyright of a work is dependent on the place in which you're applying the law, not on the place where the author is from (except when applying the rule of the shorter term).

Tons of works are in the public domain in one country, but not another.

Re: What will enter the public domain in 2024?

#18

Post by bluGill »

kevinmchugh wrote: post #10
yk wrote: post #3

The mouse via Steamboat Willie is scheduled to enter public domain? Guess we can look forward to quite eventful three weeks before the end of the year, while Disney is frantically trying to prevent that outcome.

It's been obvious for a few years that Disney wasn't going to pursue extending copyright anymore. It would have been politically difficult at any point in the last few years as the Senate does so little.

More importantly, those who care about the public domain were not paying attention the last time. They are now, so Disney realizes that it will be a harder sell. As soon as they get someone to propose a laws letters will be written. There is one thing more powerful than money in politics and that is votes. Letters to congress are a proxy for votes and so nobody will risk another extension.

Re: What will enter the public domain in 2024?

#20

Post by 2OEH8eoCRo0 »

yk wrote: post #3

The mouse via Steamboat Willie is scheduled to enter public domain? Guess we can look forward to quite eventful three weeks before the end of the year, while Disney is frantically trying to prevent that outcome.

What would happen in practice if someone tried to use the public domain Mickey for something? I assume that regardless of the legal status, you'd still have a fun time with Disney lawyers proving in court that you had the right to use public domain Mickey.

Is Mickey also a trademark (which never expires) and anything using public domain Mickey would be too similar to their trademark?

Post reply on HN