It is a coinkedink that today is the day I am posting about this sculpture. The first day of 2024 and I want to wish you all a happy new year. But that isn't the coincidence. It is that today was the day that Disney finally lost their stranglehold on Mickey Mouse. Today is the day that some of their intellectual copyright goes into the public domain.
After nearly a century of the big corporation living off the talents of their founding father, we can now do what we want with the original design of Mickey Mouse, as he appears in their first released animation called Steamboat Willie.
A company named Sue
I've had my own run-ins with Disney before when I have paid homage to their characters and my clients have received desist letters
and although I can see their point about protecting their IP I sometimes find it too aggressive and harmful to their brand. When they shut down fans and anyone doing anything with their image. Especially when they have bribed politicians for years to change laws in their favour I don't think it has been the win for their company that they think it was. I am a big supporter of the public domain and open-source and without going into too much detail I am glad this day has come and look forward to what people create using what Walt has drawn. I am sure it will probably even benefit Disney itself.
Sand sculpture homage © Disney
This is another sculpture I made in my friend's garden for his young children. Made in 2012, It was using the later designs and drawings of Mickey and Mini Mouse I just hope Disney doesn't come after me or the Hive Blockchain to try and sue. If they do they can send a letter to The head of The Legal department, Hive blockchain, The internet. Po box. 69.
It was a simple enough piece that took two days of preparing and carving and did exactly what it was meant to do, make the children happy.
Some interesting things about Mickey Mouse
Apart from the fact he is Disney's biggest brand image, he is also a pain in the arse to carve because he can not be easily translated into the 3rd dimension. He is a drawing and his ears are always facing sideways so it is difficult to work out where to put them on his head. Also, his head is very big and needs support to hold it up. Luckily I had Mini for that.
Another little fact is that he was born in 1928, the same year as my father.
My family had to give my father up in 2015. RIP.
