Mickey Mouse has been Disney’s mascot since the days of, well, Walt himself. But the mouse copyright that Disney has been zealously guarded for decades will expire in just two years. This means that the black and white version of Mickey Mouse depicted in “Steamboat Willie” would be in the public domain, where anyone can do anything with him and all the magic and fame of him.
A group of Republicans, angered by some of Disney’s positions on social issues recently, want this to happen. Disney, however, won’t let Mickey go without a fight. Read the full transcript here.
hosting: Gustavo Arellano
Guests: LA Times travel reporter Hugo Martín
Other reading:
Republicans are trying to exterminate Mickey Mouse. Does anyone care?
Disney wins big in the battle to keep the company icons
