Jennifer Englert Discusses Steamboat Willie and Copyright Law on WESH 2 News

Last week, The Orlando Law Group's Jennifer Englert appeared on WESH 2 News to discuss how Steamboat Willie will become part of the 'public domain" in 2024.

It's a fairly substantial example of our country's laws pertaining to copyright laws, where one of the most iconic animated characters will be available for anyone to use without the concerns of being in violation of the Walt Disney Co.'s rights.

"Everyone knows that Mickey and Disney take their copyrights very seriously," Englert said in the interview. "Still, I think that Disney will not sit back and let just anything happen."

Of course, this is not the first time an iconic character has entered the public domain. In 2022, Winnie The Pooh became available for anyone to use. The result? The horror movie Winnie The Pooh: Blood and Honey.

Copyright law is not just for internationally recognized brands like Walt Disney Co. It is important for small businesses as well who need to protect their brand, but also make sure they do not infringe on other copyrights.

"The laws about copyright protect businesses, including small businesses, from criminals trying to profit off your hard work," Englert says. "Likewise, using a copyrighted image can cause significant damage to a small business."

The Orlando Law Group published a story about how Steamboat Willie relates to small business copyright laws in June. You can find that here.

To see the full clip from WESH 2 News about Steamboat Willie, please visit The Orlando Law Group's YouTube page.

Of course, if you need help with copyrights for your business, please reach out to The Orlando Law Group today.