So: When can I use an image of Mickey Mouse® in my advertising?
Never: You’ll never be able to use an image of Mickey Mouse in your advertising.
Really?: Never is a very long time.
Okay: You’ll be able to use Mickey Mouse when Disney® stops using Mickey Mouse and then all the kids who were alive when Disney was using Mickey Mouse have grown old and died. And their kids, too. And maybe their grandkids.
But why?: At some point the copyright will run out, won’t it?
Hahaha: Yeah, someday the copyright will run out on Steamboat Willie, but that has nothing to do with what you asked.
But: Why not?
Because: Copyrights run out but trademarks never die, unless the trademark owner stops using the trademark and it fades from the public’s memory as a trademark. Hence, my comment about grandkids.
Hmmm: My ad is very funny. Maybe it will pass as parody.
Fat chance: Parody’s allowed only when the interests of free speech outweigh the interests of the trademark owner. That’s almost never true with advertising, which traditionally has very low free-speech interests.
But: That doesn’t seem fair to me.
OK: Think about it this way. Disney has spent decades and millions of dollars promoting its goods and services using the mouse. Why shouldn’t they get the full benefit of their investment? Why should you be allowed to piggy-back on their brand recognition to sell your stuff?
Well: When you put it that way . . .
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