After listening to Lawrence Lessig’s speech on copyright laws, I am SO READY for someone–anyone–to take down the Disney Empire.
Walt Disney is like a modern-day folkhero here in America. But I wonder how that would change if more people knew that he “stole” Steamboat Willie from Buster Keaton’s “Steamboat Bill.” And just to make sure nobody does to Mickey Mouse what he did to Buster Keaton, Walt keeps extending the copyright law so Mickey never falls into the public doman. No wonder the iconic symbol for the corporation is a rat.
Blogger Amanda makes a good point on Kalamazoo!
“Any kid can scribble or trace a picture of Mickey absentmindedly,” she writes. “But Andy Warhol appropriated him in his silk-screens and got sued. So what’s the difference? Are you only allowed to breach copyright laws if the appropriation speaks in favor of the subject?”
I personally think Amanda is on the right track, but the deciding factor isn’t whether or not the appropriation is favorable, it’s whether it’s PROFITABLE.
If my niece scribbled a picture of Mickey that only drew admiration from family and friends, that’s one thing. But let’s say Mickey was wearing Levis 501 jeans and a white t-shirt instead of red shorts. And let’s say people started to like “Mickey Bluejeans” more than Mickey Mouse. And people started downloading him on the Internet, and wearing him on t-shirts. You could be sure a lawyer or two or seven would suddenly show up at my niece’s door.
(And they probably would try to buy the rights to Mickey Bluejeans, by offering her, oh, I don’t know, a week at DisneyWorld?)
Here’s the link to Amanda’s blogpost:
Click Here for Blogpost on Mickey Mouse
an author scorned!!! we have to think of way for the creative talent to keep their rights and also get their work published.. i can not tell you how many doddles i draw during sales meeting. usually popular cartoons..
I feel your passion. I truly think issues of copyright infrigement only becomes an issue when one corporation feel that their territory is being invaded by another company who may have an impact on their sales. In some cases I can see the infringement such as, the Andy Walhol issue and Walt Disney but of course we know Walt is very protective becuase he’s infringed on someone so, the corporation can not have their money ticket infringed on.
Your niece will accept the week at Disney right?. I did not know that copyright was something as serious as it is. We really have to be careful and learn more every day. Copyright is all about MONEY that’s the only reality.
I read similar article also named -K-E-Y…S-T-E-A-L! at The name is Blog. Lisa’s Blog., and it was completely different. Personally, I agree with you more, because this article makes a little bit more sense for me
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