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Beyond Eldred v. Ashcroft

Posted by michael on from the don't-get-mad-get-even dept.

I thought I'd grab up some of the many commentaries and responses to the Eldred decision. If you read only one of these links, see Lessig's blog. Jack Balkin, another law professor who contributed to the case, is discussing it in his blog. The NYTimes has two distinct news stories on the decision (NYT1, NYT2), plus a biting editorial about the decision. Copyright scholar Siva Vaidhyanathan has a piece in Salon. The LA Times posts one of the very few stories to present the decision in a positive light. Reason is one of several to mock the mouse.

2 of 377 comments (clear)

  1. Benefits of Public Domain by iiii · · Score: 5, Interesting
    I was thinking about this case, and realized, if there is one company that has made a lot of money from public domain stories, it is Disney. Think about it, what is the origin of the stories in "Snow White", "Sleeping Beauty", "Beauty and the Beast", "Cinderella", "Aladdin"? These are all stories that are in the public domain, most of them fairy tales that appear in "The Brothers Grimm Household Tales" among other collection. "Tarzan" is in the public domain. "Treasure Island", "The Sword in the Stone", "Robin Hood"?

    When your really think about it, the fact that they are trying to prevent stories from enterring the public domain is even more hypocritical.

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    1. Re:Benefits of Public Domain by stratjakt · · Score: 5, Interesting

      The shorter list would be truly original Disney animated features.

      I'm being serious. This is a company that built it's empire simply rehashing other people's stories.

      Let me think.. Ummm...

      Lilo and Stitch
      The Fox and the Hound
      Aristocats
      101 Dalmations
      Bambi
      Fantasia (in a new artwork for old music kind of way)

      thats all I got

      I'm sure there are a few live action or cartoon shorts that are original works.

      Try and make a feature length cartoon about the Hunchback of Notre Dame or the Jungle Book and see how long till Disney is threatening you with C&D orders and lawsuits. That's what really burns. It's as much about stealing our culture as it is about 'protecting' their IP.

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