The Mickey Mouse Debate

Mickey Mouse has always been synonymous with Disney, and has served as their ultimate mascot.Disney Corporation has always been protective of its creations and has ensured that their copyrights and their beloved mascot, Mickey Mouse, never fall into the public domain.  Every time the first Mickey Mouse copyright is set to expire, Disney springs into action to extend the copyright term.

The debate of copyright term duration is a long standing one. Initially, US copyright law provided for a copyright term which lasted for a period of fourteen years from the date of publication. This term could be renewed for an additional fourteen years if the author was still alive at the expiry of the first term. In 1831, the Copyright Act was amended and the term was extended from fourteen years to 28 years, which could be renewed for an additional 14 years.