“… too generic for copyright protection.” I’ve often wondered about this: everything about Mickey Mouse is notably generic, that is, he’s a generic minstrel figure with no character attributes whatsoever. That’s why he’s so iconic in emptyheaded American “culture,” since people can project whatever they want onto him. What was under copyright? His shape?
And why are US copyrights so long? Because after Disney grabbed up – and copyrighted – a bunch of public-domain characters (Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Beauty & The Beast, Winnie-The-Pooh, etc., etc.), they lobbied long hard, and successfully to extend the period of protection by many years.
A 1932 pop song, authorized by Disney, anticipated Mickey’s Labor Comix by referring to “that tricky, wacki, wicki, bolsheviki Mickey Mouse.” See Https://Boardwalktimes.net/Disney-a-to-g-part-three-mister-mouse-escapes-the-studio-1ab1da61fd64
Regardless of Disney’s bad qualities Walt rescued Cliff “Ukulele Ike” Edwards’ career by signing him as the voice of Doc and then Jiminy Cricket. Abuse of the public domain had at least one good side effect.
Hey Ruben, I see that you’re depicting Micky (and more to the point, his clothes) only in black and white, even in otherwise colour comics. But remember, he appeared in colour (red shorts, yellow shoes, green or blue hat) in 1928 advertising posters, so you don’t need to restrict yourself! And there were even posters showing him in (yellow) gloves, so you can use those too if you like.
Panufo 4 months ago
Thank God. I was waiting for somebody to exploit this, and I am very happy.
John Lustig (Last Kiss) creator 4 months ago
As a former Mickey Mouse writer, I approve. Well done!
Zesty 4 months ago
NEXT WEEK: Red Mickey gets blacklisted!
And Lover Mickey gets banned from libraries in Florida!
E.Z. Smith Premium Member 4 months ago
Dan O’Neil was ahead of his time.
Linguist 4 months ago
“M-I-C…K-E-Y … M.O.U.S.E!” Please read my new book FLORIDA LIVING – How I Learned To Hate the Mouse and Love The Bomb.
Decepticomic 4 months ago
Up yours, Mickey! Talk more about workers’ rights and how capitalism sucks!
Vince M 4 months ago
Uh-oh, the Lady Chatterley Mickey is wearing a white glove – copyright infringement!
hmofo813 Premium Member 4 months ago
“… too generic for copyright protection.” I’ve often wondered about this: everything about Mickey Mouse is notably generic, that is, he’s a generic minstrel figure with no character attributes whatsoever. That’s why he’s so iconic in emptyheaded American “culture,” since people can project whatever they want onto him. What was under copyright? His shape?
gigagrouch 4 months ago
And i still wonder why copyright extends so many years, long after any creators are dead & buried?
Glib Sporgen 4 months ago
Super fun reading these exploitation comix, hilarity ensues.
comixbomix 4 months ago
So when does the copyright expire on “Spuds” Mick-Enzie?
Mike Baldwin creator 4 months ago
Very funny and professionally done! But if it wasn’t I could now legally say, Hey, that’s pretty Mickey Mouse.
Cozmik Cowboy 4 months ago
And why are US copyrights so long? Because after Disney grabbed up – and copyrighted – a bunch of public-domain characters (Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Beauty & The Beast, Winnie-The-Pooh, etc., etc.), they lobbied long hard, and successfully to extend the period of protection by many years.
Rick Smith Premium Member 4 months ago
You tell him Pinocchio.
JoeStrike 4 months ago
Said this under the strip on Daily Kos, but the Air Pirates were definitely several decades ahead of their time! – >
grange Premium Member 4 months ago
I’m wondering if only Steamboat Willie is public domain and the name Mickey Mouse is still protected.
Stopthespendingnow 4 months ago
What does any of this have to do with Donald Trump? I don’t get it.
Godfreydaniel 4 months ago
Remember, a corporation is a legal entity. (Those of us with a cynical bent are apt to say “a legal fiction.”)
Jefano Premium Member 4 months ago
A 1932 pop song, authorized by Disney, anticipated Mickey’s Labor Comix by referring to “that tricky, wacki, wicki, bolsheviki Mickey Mouse.” See Https://Boardwalktimes.net/Disney-a-to-g-part-three-mister-mouse-escapes-the-studio-1ab1da61fd64
JPuzzleWhiz 4 months ago
Why isn’t there a “Tricky Mickey” strip, patterned after “Lucky Ducky”?
JPuzzleWhiz 4 months ago
Cameo by Quentin in the lower right corner!
willie_mctell 4 months ago
Regardless of Disney’s bad qualities Walt rescued Cliff “Ukulele Ike” Edwards’ career by signing him as the voice of Doc and then Jiminy Cricket. Abuse of the public domain had at least one good side effect.
David Rickard Premium Member 4 months ago
I’ll never read “Billy Dare” again if they don’t bring back Quentin!
tobybartels 4 months ago
Hey Ruben, I see that you’re depicting Micky (and more to the point, his clothes) only in black and white, even in otherwise colour comics. But remember, he appeared in colour (red shorts, yellow shoes, green or blue hat) in 1928 advertising posters, so you don’t need to restrict yourself! And there were even posters showing him in (yellow) gloves, so you can use those too if you like.
eddi-TBH 4 months ago
Unca Walt may be frozen, but he’s getting hot under the collar. Lady Chatterley took it right over the top.
Guy Steele Premium Member 4 months ago
Nice work, Ruben! But I see that Alexandra Petri beat you to the punch in WaPo by just a day!
https://www.washingtonpost.COM/opinions/2024/01/04/chatterley-mickey-mouse-copyright/
Funny_Ha_Ha 4 months ago
That stick-nosed toon may have been perpetrating a falsehood.