https://mashable.com/article/disney-pulls-youtube-steamboat-willie-copyright-claim CES 2024 AI @ WORK Tech Science Life Social Good Entertainment Deals Shopping Travel [ ] Search Cancel * * Search Result ----------------------------------------------------------------- CES 2024 AI @ WORK Tech Apps & Software Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity Cryptocurrency Mobile Smart Home Social Media Tech Industry Transportation All Tech Science Space Climate Change Environment Video All Science Life Digital Culture Family & Parenting Health & Wellness Sex, Dating & Relationships Sleep Careers Mental Health All Life Social Good Activism Gender LGBTQ Racial Justice Sustainability Politics All Social Good Entertainment Games Movies Podcasts TV Shows Video Reviews Watch Guides All Entertainment SHOP THE BEST Home Tech Kitchen Fitness Sex Toys Apps & Software Dating Gift Guides Mashable Choice Mashable Selects Gaming All Best Products Travel Deals Best of All Travel Product Reviews Tech Life Beauty Tech Kitchen Kids/Toys Gaming Fitness Sex Toys Apps & Software All Product Reviews DEALS Home Tech TV Laptop VPN Vacuum Gaming Streaming Apple Mashable Shop All Deals Newsletters VIDEOS Mashable Shows All Videos Home > Tech Disney backs down from 'Steamboat Willie' YouTube copyright claim The company tacitly acknowledges that 'Steamboat Willie' is in the public domain. By Matt Binder on January 5, 2024 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Flipboard Steamboat Willie Disney has retracted a copyright claim it made on a YouTube video, publicly acknowledging "Steamboat Willie" as public domain. Credit: Brandon Bell/Getty Images --------------------------------------------------------------------- This feels significant: Disney has officially retracted a copyright claim on a third-party's Steamboat Willie video on YouTube. On Thursday, Mashable reported that YouTuber and voice actor Brock Baker had uploaded a video to his channel with over 1 million subscribers which was almost immediately hit with a copyright claim from Disney. Disney releases "Steamboat Willie" copyright claim YouTube's message to Brock Baker regarding Disney releasing the copyright claim on his "Steamboat Willie" upload. Credit: Brock Baker Baker's video featured the entirety of the 1928 Disney animated short Steamboat Willie. He had remixed the film, which stars Mickey Mouse, with his own comedic audio track playing over the nearly 8-minute cartoon, and released it under the title "Steamboat Willie (Brock's Dub)." After being hit with the claim, Baker's upload became demonetized, meaning the YouTuber could not make any money off of it. The claim also blocked the ability to embed the video on third-party websites. In addition, the YouTube video was given limited visibility, including being blocked from view entirely in certain countries. SEE ALSO: How people are using Mickey Mouse in his post-copyright era Baker disputed the copyright claim shortly after receiving it. His case appeared strong, as Steamboat Willie entered the public domain on January 1, 2024, allowing a broad range of creative usage of the film and its contents without Disney's permission -- including for profit. He was successful. "Disney released their claim and it's now embeddable and shareable worldwide," Baker told Mashable on Friday along with a screenshot of the email alert he received from YouTube letting him know the copyright claim was released. "Good news! After reviewing your dispute, Disney has decided to release their copyright claim on your YouTube video," reads the YouTube email message. As a result of Disney pulling the claim, Baker's video is now monetizable, embeddable, and viewable worldwide. "I'm honestly glad it took 24 hours and not 30 days, still frustrating though," Baker told us, referencing YouTube's policies which gave Disney an entire month to respond to his dispute to their copyright claim. "I wish I knew what goes on behind the scenes." There has been lots of speculation online about what exactly can be done with Steamboat Willie that won't draw the ire of or potential lawsuit from Disney, which still holds the trademark (which is different from a copyright) for uses of the iconic Mickey Mouse character in certain contexts. According to TechDirt, other Steamboat Willie videos have also reportedly received copyright claims over the past few days. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Related Stories --------------------------------------------------------------------- * [Update] Mickey Mouse horror game to change name after Nazi dog whistle accusations * The New York Times sues OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement * Microsoft offers legal protection for users with AI copyright infringements YouTube, for its part, historically asserts that it does not mediate copyright claims. It's up to the copyright holder to make claims via its Content ID tool, and it's up to uploaders to dispute those claims when they believe they were incorrectly made. According to YouTube, the responsibility to release claims on content that has fallen into the public domain is with the Content ID user, who in this case is Disney. Based on how quickly Baker's video was flagged, Disney's copyright claim on his upload was likely automated, drawing from YouTube's Content ID database. Mashable has reached out to Disney for more information and will update this piece if we hear back. But, the way this has played out will likely be genuinely helpful to those looking to create new creative works based on the newly public domain title Steamboat Willie. By releasing the YouTube copyright claim on Baker's video, Disney has made what could be its first official public action recognizing that Steamboat Willie along with this version of Mickey Mouse is indeed public domain. In other words, content like Baker's is allowed, with or without Disney's input. Topics Disney YouTube --------------------------------------------------------------------- Recommended For You Here are 2024's public domain works, and how you can use them Old art -- yes including Mickey Mouse -- is all of our rightful inheritance. 12/30/2023 By Mike Pearl Comic Con attendees wearing Mickey and Minnie Mouse costumes Comic Con attendees wearing Mickey and Minnie Mouse costumes --------------------------------------------------------------------- Jersey Jerry's 36-hour hole-in-one golf livestream is captivating, Sisyphean entertainment He finally DID IT! 01/04/2024 By Tim Marcin jersey jerry golfing on a simulator jersey jerry golfing on a simulator --------------------------------------------------------------------- 'In the Know' trailer: Mike Judge's latest cartoon combines stop-motion and real stars Guests include Mike Tyson, Tegan and Sara, and Jonathan Van Ness. 01/04/2024 By Belen Edwards Janathan Van Ness on "In The Know." Janathan Van Ness on "In The Know." --------------------------------------------------------------------- The best sex and dating apps for hooking up Looking for casual sex? These are the best apps for finding a hookup. 01/03/2024 By Leah Stodart , Joseph Green , and Miller Kern Three people in bed Three people in bed --------------------------------------------------------------------- YouTube now allows breastfeeding videos to be monetized. Here's why it changed its mind. Areolas won't get you in trouble, as long as you follow the rules. 11/17/2023 By Kimberly Gedeon Woman breastfeeding her baby Woman breastfeeding her baby --------------------------------------------------------------------- Trending on Mashable NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for January 7 Everything you need to solve 'Connections' #210. 20 hours ago By Mashable Team A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.' A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.' --------------------------------------------------------------------- Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for January 7 Here are some tips and tricks to help you find the answer to "Wordle" #932. 19 hours ago By Mashable Team A Wordle logo seen displayed on a smartphone against a cluttered desk. A Wordle logo seen displayed on a smartphone against a cluttered desk. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Disney's 'Steamboat Willie' YouTube copyright claim is back, this time for audio The public domain saga continues. 5 hours ago By Elena Cavender Still of the black-and-white 'Steamboat Willie' cartoon. Still of the black-and-white 'Steamboat Willie' cartoon. --------------------------------------------------------------------- NASA flies extremely close by volcano world, captures wild footage Extraordinary views of a land hundreds of millions of miles away. 01/02/2024 By Mark Kaufman NASA's Juno spacecraft captured this rich imagery of Io's volcanoes. NASA's Juno spacecraft captured this rich imagery of Io's volcanoes. --------------------------------------------------------------------- NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for January 6 Everything you need to solve 'Connections' #209. 01/06/2024 By Mashable Team A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.' A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.' The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox. [ ] Loading... Subscribe This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox! * TECH * SCIENCE * LIFE * SOCIAL GOOD * ENTERTAINMENT * BEST PRODUCTS * DEALS * About Mashable * Contact Us * We're Hiring * Newsletters * Sitemap * * * * * * * * * Group Black Mashable supports Group Black and its mission to increase greater diversity in media voices and media ownership. Group Black's collective includes Essence, TheShadeRoom and Afro-Punk. (c)2005-2024 Mashable, Inc., a Ziff Davis company. All Rights Reserved. Mashable is a registered trademark of Ziff Davis and may not be used by third parties without express written permission. * About Ziff Davis * Privacy Policy * Terms of Use * Advertise * Accessibility * Do Not Sell My Personal Information * * ZiffDavis AdChoicesAdChoices