The company tacitly acknowledges that 'Steamboat Willie' is in the public domain.

• Disney retracts copyright claim on a YouTuber’s “Steamboat Willie” video, allowing it to be monetizable and shareable worldwide.

• The claim had previously demonetized the video and restricted its visibility and embedding options.

• This move by Disney may signal its recognition of “Steamboat Willie” being in the public domain.

  • Smacks@lemmy.worldEnglish
    125·
    11 months ago

    I actually didn’t expect Disney to respect public domain. Everyone 100% has the right to absolutely shit on them for strangling copyright law all these years, though.

    • Gestrid@lemmy.caEnglish
      351·
      11 months ago

      I’m honestly pretty shocked they even let it go public domain at all.

      • ShepherdPie@midwest.socialEnglish
        171·
        11 months ago

        They’ve already had the rules changed to extend their copyright multiple times. I think they ran out of excuses at this point like your coworker who’s missed work due to their grandma dying for the fourth time this year.

        • TheMurphy@lemmy.worldEnglish
          61·
          11 months ago

          Also because the Congress that approved the extension were majority of Republicans both at senate and house.

          Who would have guessed they would favor the multi billion corp rather than the public.