January 1, 2024 is Public Domain Day | Hacker News Reader

January 1, 2024 is Public Domain Day

web.law.duke.edu

80 pointsthe-mitr16 comments

I don't think anybody ever thought they'd live to see the day when Mickey Mouse entered the public domain. I'm still not sure I'll believe it until the clock strikes midnight and Congress actually lets it happen.

Tomorrow is easily the most important and consequential Public Domain Day in recent memory. Even if it isn't the most recognizable version of Mickey Mouse, this is still an enormous symbolic victory.

$5 that Disney has started using steamboat Willie as part of Disney Animations shows as a logo purely because they will seek to file a trademark lawsuit against the first person they find trying to use what they think is "public domain" Mickey.

Trademarks are designed to be forever, as long as they remain well known enough, but that doesn't prevent someone from using the concept instead of the actual image itself.

i.e. You could write a book with the character mentioned in it just like you can write a book with Coke mentioned in it.

I am not grasping the consequences of the copyright works entering the public tomorrow. What are they?

A 100 year copyright term might as well be infinite. Very, very few things are culturally relevant after that long.

Well life+70y, so theoretically up to ~170y. Regardless, I'd agree that few things need protecting for so long. Kids can work for themselves.

Interesting that "Yes! We Have No Bananas" will be public domain just in time to be relevant again. I don't know the current status of the fungus attacking Cavendish bananas, but it's been discussed here on HN at least once.

64k watermelons ought to be enough for anybody.

Some related/recent discussions:

Mickey, Disney, and the public domain: A 95-year love triangle

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38678021

Public Domain Day 2024 Is Coming: Here's What to Know

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38586978

Thanks! Macroexpanded:

Copyright for original Mickey Mouse persona to run out 1 January 2024 - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38799484 - Dec 2023 (10 comments)

Mickey Mouse to Enter Public Domain: "It's Finally Happening'" - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38737164 - Dec 2023 (7 comments)

Mickey, Disney, and the public domain: A 95-year love triangle - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38678021 - Dec 2023 (208 comments)

Public Domain Day 2024 Is Coming: Here's What to Know - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38586978 - Dec 2023 (6 comments)

The Mickey Mouse Copyright Runs Out in 2024 - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36559037 - July 2023 (64 comments)

Looking forward to a brief rush of editorial cartoon-level works doing absolutely nothing not already covered by parody or fair use. Maybe a bad horror or porn movie.

Then nothing, just like happened with Winnie the Pooh.

We've never had something of this prominence go into public domain.

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