The Leader of the Club That's Made For You And Me!

Today is Mickey Mouse's 75th birthday. At the time Walt Disney (or was it Ub Iwerks?) declared Mickey a fait accompli the copyright term was 28 years with the opportunity for renewal for an additional 47 years, for a total of 75. So today would have marked the day when Mickey's ascension to the public domain would have been assured (we could have celebrated his arrival January 1, 2004). Instead, Disney lobbied for the Sonny Bonny Copyright Term Extension Act and in 1999, 20 years was tacked on to the existing copyright terms, retroactively. This occurred despite our Constitution's prohibitions of ex post facto (after the fact) laws.

So happy birthday, Mickey. Perhaps someday you will return to the public from whence you sprang. Perhaps then we'll see a wave of creativity building upon, challenging, and transforming the identity you've established during your years as Disney's property. Until then, keep shaking hands at the theme parks.