Lawrence Lessig has an excellent observation about Disney’s role in both extremes of intellectual property protection.
Mickey Mouse, of course, first appeared in “Steamboat Willie” which was released in 1928. “Steamboat Willie” was in turn a takeoff of Buster Keaton’s “Steamboat Bill” which had been released earlier that year. Lessig notes that the script for “Steamboat Willie” begins with this instruction,
Orchestra starts playing opening verses of ‘Steamboat Bill.’
To which Lessig says, “Try doing a cartoon take-off of one of Disney, Inc.’s latest films with an opening that copies the music, and see how far your Walt Empire gets.”
Hmm…there goes my live action “Monsters Co.” musical.
Where is the script?!