Mickey Mouse first appeared in the animated short film, Steamboat Willie (best known as the public debut of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse). As its copyright neared expiration, The Walt Disney Company strongly supported extensions of copyright law in the U.S., leading to the Copyright Term Extension Act, 1998 (which extended protection to another 20 years). Critics famously dubbed it the “Mickey Mouse Protection Act,” making it a classic example of how powerful IP holders can influence legislation to safeguard valuable creative assets.
Did you know street artists can legally own thecopyright to graffiti they painted illegally? Copyrightautomatically protects original art the moment it isfixed in a tangible medium, even if the canvas is a wall.
This creates a fascinating legal paradox, on one end abuilding owner can have the artist arrested forvandalism, but on the other, if someone copies thatexact same mural for merchandise without permission,the artist can sue for copyright infringement.
