Mickey Mouse

Mickey Mouse is a comic animal cartoon character who has become a symbol for The Walt Disney Company. Created in the 1920s by Ub Iwerks, the mouse has evolved from being simply a character in animated cartoons and comic strips to become one of the most recognizable symbols in the world.

Mickey Mouse bans

In 1935, Romanian authorities banned Mickey Mouse films from cinemas after they feared that children would be scared to see a ten-foot mouse in the movie theatre.

Related Topics:
1935 - Romania - Ban - Films - Cinema - Foot - Mouse - Movie theatre

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In 1936, Adolf Hitler declared Mickey Mouse to be an enemy of the state in Nazi Germany.

Related Topics:
1936 - Adolf Hitler - Enemy of the state - Nazi Germany

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Copyright and trademark issues

Many people have believed erroneously that the Mickey Mouse character is protected only by copyright. In fact, the Mickey Mouse character, like all major Disney characters, is protected as a trademark, which like all trademarks lasts in perpetuity as long as it continues to be used commercially by its owner. Whether or not a particular Disney cartoon goes into the public domain, the characters themselves will remain protected as trademarks from unauthorized use.

Related Topics:
Copyright - Trademark - Public domain

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The Walt Disney Company has become well known for protecting its trademark on the Mickey Mouse character, whose likeness is so closely associated with the company, with particular zeal. Disney chose not to sue Paul Krassner for publishing Wally Wood's illustration of The Disneyland Memorial Orgy in the underground newspaper The Realist in 1967, and didn't pursue legal redress until a bootleg blacklight poster appeared. In a protracted case in the 1970s, Disney sued underground cartoonist Dan O'Neill for his comic book Air Pirate Funnies, even going so far as to request the court press criminal charges.

Related Topics:
Walt Disney Company - Trademark - Paul Krassner - Wally Wood - The Disneyland Memorial Orgy - The Realist - 1967 - 1970s - Dan O'Neill

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