The most effective way for a Dem Congress to fix Disney's little red wagon

[jmowreader]

Disney's most valuable property isn't ABC. It isn't Disney World, Walt Disney Pictures or Lindsay Lohan. Or even ESPN.

It's Mickey Mouse.

Mickey Mouse is unusual from a legal standpoint because of the way he's copyrighted. The character himself in all his incarnations is copyrighted by Disney (most other things that are copyrighted must have a Form VA--copyright for a visual image--filed for every incarnation...the Form VA that covered "What's Opera, Doc?" doesn't protect Bugs in "Rabbit of Seville," but Mickey has this weird all-application copyright. Mickey's copyright works more like a design patent, but it lasts longer--and every time it's set to expire, Disney buys a couple of congressmen and gets it renewed.

If ABC airs Path to 9/11, I believe the next Democratic Congress should pass a law requiring Disney to follow the same copyright rules with Mickey Mouse that every other visual property must obey.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Yeah

That'll show 'em who's boss.



A h'yuck.

[BOSSHOG]

3. I'm reminded of an amusing anecdote

Mickey wanted to divorce Mini so they went to a marriage counselor. Mickey went in first, then Mini. The counselor got them together and said Mickey you don't have grounds for divorce, Mini isn't Crazy. Mickey responded, I didn't say she was crazy, I said she was fucking Goofy.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. I heard Kermit the Frog converted to Islam.

And he divorced Miss Piggy because he could no longer eat pork.

(rimshot)


That doesn't have anything to do with anything. Just another anecdote.

[whistle]

2. Uhmmm, and just where did you find that little jem? Source?