Mickey Chained but Not Muzzled

Jesse Walker interviews Mickey Mouse about the Eldred decision in Reason:

Mickey’s own reaction to the decision was less enthusiastic. Telling his keepers that he was going on an “ice run for the boss,” the mouse made his way to a dive bar a few miles outside Disneyland, where he gave reason an exclusive interview.

Q: How does it feel to have your sentence extended by two decades?

A: How do you think it feels? For almost 70 years, I’ve only been allowed to do what the Disney people say I can do. Sometimes someone comes up with a new idea, and I think to myself, “Great! Here’s a chance to stretch myself!” But of course they won’t let me leave the reservation. If I do, they send out their lawyers to bring me home.

In 1971, for instance, Dan O’Neill got me a part in something called Air Pirates Funnies. It was great: I got to have sex, I got to use drugs, I got to explore the whole underground comix scene. It was liberating.

Well, of course Disney complained. They said—this is a direct quote—that O’Neill’s parody was tarnishing my “image of innocent delight.” After two issues of the comic book, they issued a summons and took us all to court for trademark violation and copyright infringement.

Q: And they never published another issue?

A: Of course not.

I don’t think you realize how tight the clamps on me are. If I so much as flicker on a TV screen in the background of a documentary, Disney can tell the filmmakers, “Either scramble that image or pay us for permission to use it.” And the courts will allow it.

Q: Some might say that it’s perfectly legitimate for Disney to own you—not just now, but in perpetuity. After all, they created you.

A: Created me? [An enormous cartoon spit-take follows.]

Did you like that? It’s my Daffy Duck imitation.

Q: Very nice. I didn’t know you were familiar with the Warner Brothers characters.

A: Poor bastards. They’re gonna be locked up even longer than I am. I guess if Chuck Jones were still around to direct their cartoons, they might not mind it on their plantation. Instead, they have to do those stupid commercials with Michael Jordan…..

Andy Baio provides a visual presentation of Mickey’s problems here, and discusses it here.