this post was submitted on 17 Mar 2025
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[–] Mothra@mander.xyz 17 points 1 day ago (2 children)
[–] movies@lemmy.world 81 points 1 day ago (2 children)

The glove joke is that only Steamboat Willie is in the public domain. Wearing the gloves makes him Mickey Mouse, which is why he should absolutely not wear them as his copyright hasn’t expired.

The other doors look like Donald Duck, Superman, and I guess James Bond? I assume their copyright expirations are coming soon—in that order.

[–] RoidingOldMan@lemmy.world 31 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Similar to Micky not wearing gloves, Superman wouldn't be able to fly, be vulnerable to kryptonite, wouldn't have heat vision, freeze breath, or the fortress of solitude. Pretty much all the iconic villains would be off limits too.

[–] KingOfTheCouch@lemmy.ca 26 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Yup, not at first. Mickey's gloves are actually a great example as they come into public domain this year as the first film where he wears those comes up next. (IIRC, INAL, don't go violating copyright law based on a comment on the interwebs.)

[–] moody@lemmings.world 24 points 1 day ago (2 children)

don’t go violating copyright law based on a comment on the interwebs

Who's gonna stop me?

[–] KingOfTheCouch@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 day ago

Nooooooo!!!! My comment was strictly meant for entertainment! This was not legal advice!

[–] Mothra@mander.xyz 2 points 1 day ago

Aaaahhhhhh thanks. Yes I totally forgot that Steamboat Willie was PD now, and about wearing the gloves. Oh well!

[–] Acamon@lemmy.world 9 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I don't really either. Mickey mouse is now PD, and I assume the other guy (no idea who he is) is too? And daffy duck, someone else and James bond will also become PD soon. Mickey with gloves is still copyrighted, so he can't wear the gloves.

[–] pennomi@lemmy.world 11 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The other guy is the main character of the artist’s comic. He’s just visiting the land of public domain.

Or he is directly publishing his comics into the PD

[–] Burninator05@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I wonder if other hand based clothing items are ok. White gloves clearly aren't but what about different colored gloves? What about gauntlets? Inquiring minds want to know how far we can push this before legally we're in the wrong.

[–] RoidingOldMan@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Inquiring minds want to know how far we can push this before legally we’re in the wrong.

As long as it's parody like this comic, then you can do pretty much whatever you want. Like how Family Guy can reference 200 random things per episode. It's only becomes illegal when it's serious in nature, like fan made Star Trek stuff. Because it too closely resembles the actual show. If they could monetize stuff like that, they could theoretically become a Star Trek competitor.

[–] Bgugi@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

Copyright law only really holds major rights holders accountable to each other. It doesn't matter if you're 100% in the right, if you piss off a rights holder enough they will crush you.

See also CNN vs Canadian United Media.