Disney has accepted defeat in its battle against YouTube over the beloved 1928 film “Steamboat Willie.” This decision marks the company’s realization that its most iconic character has officially and unequivocally entered the public domain. Just remember, the new woke Disney was the one who opted to separate itself from Walt’s classic image.
According to Mashable, this reconciliation comes as a result of a copyright dispute with YouTube content creator and voice actor Brock Baker. Baker’s comedic take on “Steamboat Willie” received a copyright claim from Disney within minutes of being uploaded on Thursday.
This is not surprising, as “Steamboat Willie” is set to enter the public domain on January 1, 2024. In anticipation of this, many non-Disney-sanctioned projects surrounding the iconic mouse have emerged.
Baker’s version of the film, dubbed over with his own comedic ramblings, tested the limits of public domain rights. However, it was met with a swift copyright claim by Disney on YouTube, resulting in the video being demonetized and having its reach significantly lowered.
However, Baker challenged the claim, and to his relief, Disney dropped it. He told Mashable, “Disney released their claim and it’s now embeddable and shareable worldwide.” A YouTube message also noted that Disney “decided to” drop the claim.
This raises questions about what Disney will and won’t challenge in terms of copyright claims, especially once “Steamboat Willie” officially enters the public domain.
Aside from YouTube, the public domain entry of “Steamboat Willie” has also led to a variety of violent projects that would never be approved under the Disney brand. For example, Fumi Games announced “MOUSE,” a gritty shooter that takes inspiration from the film’s noir elements.
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But “MOUSE” is just one of the more intense takes on “Steamboat Willie.” “Infestation: Origins” is a horror game based on the iconic mouse, and there are two horror movies in the works that will also feature the character. Deadline reports that one of the films, titled “Mickey’s Mouse Trap,” may even spark legal action from Disney.
It’s important to note that only the black-and-white version of Mickey Mouse featured in “Steamboat Willie” is in the public domain. This means that more modern versions of the character are still protected under copyright law.
In light of this copyright dispute, it will be interesting to see how Disney handles the increased use of “Steamboat Willie” in public domain projects. As more and more creations emerge, it is possible that Disney will have to navigate a fine line between protecting its brand and acknowledging the public domain status of its most iconic character.
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At the end of all of this, Disney tried to throw around their weight to crush small time creates and their efforts blew up in their faces. Personally, I’m not fan of the new content but as Disney tries to separate itself from it’s past to please the woke crowd they can’t control what happens with the discarded remains of Walt Disney’s creations. They can’t have it both ways