95岁生日一到，“爷爷辈”米老鼠不是迪士尼的了！

2024-01-16 19:18:00来源：网络

【资料库】第一册语法逐句精讲新概念英语2第三册经典句子解析新概念英语30天寒假学习计划
【课后题及答案解析】新概念英语第一册新概念英语第二册新概念英语第三册新概念英语第四册
【经验分享】学习新概念英语如何提升英语水平? 自学四大经典学习方法新概念学习方法及经验

　　作为迪士尼公司最有代表性的形象，米老鼠在国内被粉丝们昵称为“老板”。然而，随着“老板”的95岁生日到来，其95年的版权保护期限也到了：2024年1月1日起，迪士尼已经失去了初版米老鼠的版权。

　　CNN：米老鼠的早期版本现在属于公众了

　　据美国有线电视新闻网(CNN)报道，迪士尼1928年首部以米老鼠为主角的动画短片《威利号汽船》(Steamboat Willie)的版权，已于今年1月1日到期，这意味着从此之后，公众将可以免费使用这款初代米老鼠的卡通造型。

　　Mickey Mouse no longer belongs solely to the Walt Disney Company. On January 1, 2024, an early version of the entertainment company’s mascot, featured in Walt Disney’s 1928 short film, “Steamboat Willie,” entered the public domain for the first time.

　　近一个世纪以来，这只幽默的啮齿动物一直是迪士尼品牌的代名词，已经成为美国流行文化中最具代表性的角色之一。然而，由于美国版权法最后一次由国会在1998年更新，允许版权保护期为95年，迪士尼对该角色的独家所有权已正式结束。

　　The good-humored rodent, which has been synonymous with the Disney brand for nearly a century, has grown into one of the most iconic characters in American pop culture. But since US copyright law, last updated by Congress in 1998, allows copyright to be held for 95 years, Disney’s sole claim to the character has officially ended.

　　不过，大家需要注意了：到期的只是初代米老鼠，现代版的米老鼠不受版权到期的影响。迪士尼公司在声明中表示，“米老鼠将继续作为迪士尼公司的全球形象大使，在我们的故事、主题公园景点和商品中发挥主导作用。”

　　In a statement to CNN, a Disney spokesperson said “More modern versions of Mickey will remain unaffected by the expiration of the Steamboat Willie copyright, and Mickey will continue to play a leading role as a global ambassador for the Walt Disney Company in our storytelling, theme park attractions, and merchandise.”

　　1928年的初代米老鼠和现代版米老鼠形象不太一样。初代米老鼠没有白手套和超大号鞋子，他的眼睛是没有瞳孔的小黑色椭圆形。

　　There are differences between the 1928 Mickey and the company’s mascot today. The Mickey of “Steamboat Willie” lacks the current Mickey’s gloves and oversized shoes, and his eyes are small black ovals without pupils.

　　不过，国外早就有创作者盯上了这个机会，一旦版权到期，就对初代米老鼠下手了。

　　据BBC报道，就在初代米老鼠版权到期的当天，一部米老鼠形象的低成本恐怖片《米奇的老鼠陷阱》(Mickey's Mouse Trap)就公布了预告片……

　　Creatives have been quick to take advantage of the new rules, with a trailer (contains violent scenes) for a Mickey horror film called Mickey's Mouse Trap dropping on the same day.

　　BBC：版权到期后，米老鼠恐怖片来了

　　此外，一款新的电子游戏也已经推出，同样以1928年版本的米老鼠为主角。游戏工作室 Nightmare Forge Games 表示，这款名为《虫害》(Infestation)的游戏是一款生存恐怖游戏，游戏中一场虫灾的爆发演变成了更凶险的状况。

　　Not to be outdone, a new video game has been unveiled, also featuring the 1928 version of Mickey.

　　Game studio Nightmare Forge Games said the game, titled Infestation, is a survival horror game in which an outbreak of vermin turns into something more sinister.

　　一直以来，迪士尼被业界戏称为拥有“最强法务部”，对米老鼠等旗下卡通形象的保护不遗余力，不仅多次游说美国议会延长版权保护期，还对侵权者毫不留情地发起诉讼和索赔，哪怕是幼儿园墙上的米老鼠卡通画都不放过。

　　BBC指出，迪士尼卡通人物最初预计在1984年进入公共领域，但美国国会将期限延长了20年。在2004年的版权到期日到来之前，再次通过了20年的延期。

　　Disney has faced losing the copyright over its original cartoons several times in the past.

　　The characters were first expected to go into the public domain in 1984, but Congress extended the term by 20 years. Before the next expiry date came up in 2004, another 20-year extension was passed.

　　迪士尼为保护其卡通形象所做的努力，甚至导致了这项法律被称为“米老鼠保护法”。但其到期的这一刻终于来临，被专家誉为“极具象征意义”。

　　Disney's efforts to protect its characters have even led to the law being dubbed "the Mickey Mouse Protection Act". But the moment finally came, and was hailed as being "deeply symbolic" by experts.

本文关键字: 新概念英语