So much for public domain. Disney has already struck people posting videos of Steamboat Willie, but eventually released the copyright claim after some pushback. Will Disney find itself involved in trademark suits over Mickey Mouse in 2024?
Additional Context:
The situation involving “Steamboat Willie” on YouTube highlights the complexities of copyright claims and public domain status. Disney initially issued a copyright claim on a video uploaded by YouTuber and voice actor Brock Baker, which featured “Steamboat Willie” with Baker’s own comedic audio track. This claim led to the video being demonetized and restricted in visibility, including being blocked in certain countries. However, “Steamboat Willie” entered the public domain on January 1, 2024, which theoretically allows broad creative usage of the film and its contents without needing Disney’s permission.
Baker disputed the copyright claim, and Disney subsequently retracted it. This retraction allowed Baker’s video to become monetizable, embeddable, and viewable worldwide. The quick resolution of this dispute is notable, as YouTube’s policies typically give copyright claimants up to a month to respond to disputes. The incident has sparked discussions about what content based on “Steamboat Willie” is permissible without attracting Disney’s legal action, especially considering Disney still holds trademarks for uses of the iconic Mickey Mouse character in certain contexts.
Despite “Steamboat Willie” being in the public domain, it seems that YouTube is still blocking access to the content in some countries on behalf of Disney. This ongoing issue reflects the challenges that arise when dealing with intellectual property that straddles the line between copyrighted and public domain material.
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