Will we see another copyright extension in 2018?

[Goldwater]

Unfortunately, probably so.

[Goldwater]

I see nothing wrong with Mickey still being copyrighted. Disney actually uses that patent, and still does, voluminously so, so it isn't like society is being shortchanged or whatnot. That being said in general I think a further 20 year extension would not be a good idea and some more measured approach would be preferable for sure.

I would think there would be a way to protect active IPs without infinitely extending copyright laws, though admittedly I'm not very knowledgeable on the subject.

[Goldwater]

Trademarks are different things to copyright. All Disney would loose is the royalties for publishing Steamboat Willie, not the use of Mickey as a trademarked figure for their own purposes.

So when expiry on the first batman comics run out, you can start printing, selling and scanning them online without harm, but you wouldn't be able to start selling Batman merchandise.

Ah, right, that makes sense.

[Goldwater]

Unfortunately, probably so.

Man, this guy is bad at predicting things.