Disney may be about to lose the rights to its most well-known and beloved character, it has emerged.
As reported by Deadline, Republican Senator Josh Hawley has proposed a bill that, if passed, would see Disney lose the copyright for the original Mickey Mouse
The bill is aimed at reducing copyright protections from 95 years to just 56 if successful, which would mean Disney instantly loses some of its older copyrights.
Advert
The bill would only apply to entertainment and theme park companies with a market capitalization of more than $150 billion. It's worth noting that it also includes a provision to delay any action for up to 10 years.
Hawley said in a press release: "The age of Republican handouts to Big Business is over. Thanks to special copyright protections from Congress, woke corporations like Disney have earned billions while increasingly pandering to woke activists. It's time to take away Disney's special privileges and open up a new era of creativity and innovation."
Mickey Mouse was originally created way back in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. The character has gone on to become Disney's mascot, and one of the most recognisable cartoon characters on the planet. But you already know all that, because it's Mickey bloody Mouse.
Hawley's proposed bill comes after Disney spoke out against the Parental Rights in Education Law, which prohibits discussion of gender identity in schools until third grade.
Advert
Keith Kupferschmid, CEO of the Copyright Alliance, argued in a statement on Tuesday, "This legislation would harm those millions of everyday Americans in all fifty states who rely on copyright for their livelihoods in creative industries largely dominated by independent and small businesses."
Deadline notes that Hawley's bill is unlikely to find much success, citing a Democrat-controlled Senate as just one of the reasons. Sen. It also points out that Senator Patrick Leahy, who chairs the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on intellectual property, is viewed as a "big booster for the entertainment industry when it comes to fighting piracy and bolstering copyright protections".
Featured Image Credit: Disney