DVDizzy Forum

willard wrote:I wonder if Disney is also seeing this as an opportunity to exploit more copyrighted material. Their hasn't been any word on them trying to extend their own copyrights again.

The rise of the Internet has totally changed the political landscape on copyright issues. The Electronic Frontier Foundation is much larger than it was in 1998. Other groups, including Public Knowledge, didn't even exist 20 years ago. Internet companies—especially Google—have become powerful opponents of expanding copyright protections.

Not only are there many more copyright reform advocates in Washington now than there were 20 years ago, but they're also well-networked with other public interest groups, she told Ars in a phone interview. As a result, there are "a lot of different eyes on different bills."

And even some content creators aren't keen on ever-longer copyright terms. The Authors Guild, for example, "does not support extending the copyright term, especially since many of our members benefit from having access to a thriving and substantial public domain of older works," a Guild spokeswoman told Ars in an email. "If anything, we would likely support a rollback to a term of life-plus-50 if it were politically feasible."

Big Disney Fan wrote:Does that mean that they may or may not let the copyright on Mickey Mouse run out?

willard wrote:

Big Disney Fan wrote:Does that mean that they may or may not let the copyright on Mickey Mouse run out?

Mickey the character will be protected by trademark.

http://copyright.nova.edu/mickey-public-domain/