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Mickey Mouse Horror Film Unveiled As Copyright Ends

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mickey

It’s Mickey, but not as you’ve ever known him.

On January 1, when Disney’s copyright on the first iterations of the cartoon character expired in the United States, a trailer for a horror flick starring a masked murderer dressed as Mickey Mouse was published.

“We wanted the polar opposite of what exists,” claimed the film’s producer.

A new Mickey-inspired horror game featuring a rodent covered in blood spots was released on the same day.

Steamboat Willie, a 1928 short film featuring early non-speaking incarnations of Mickey and Minnie, was released into the public domain in the United States on January 1.

mickey

Mickey Mouse Horror Film Unveiled As Copyright Ends

Cartoonists, writers, and filmmakers can now modify and use the original Mickey and Minnie characters.

Anyone can use those versions without asking for permission or paying a fee.

Creatives were eager to capitalize on the new laws, with a trailer (containing violent scenes) for a Mickey horror flick being released on the same day.

A young woman is surprised with a surprise birthday party in an amusement arcade in Mickey’s Mouse Trap, but things quickly go wrong when she and her pals face a knife-wielding murderer dressed as Mickey.

“A place for fun, for friends, and for hunting.” “The mouse has escaped,” the trailer proclaims in red letters.

“People shouldn’t take it too seriously; we made a ridiculously fun movie,” said Simon Phillips, who wrote, produced, and played the man behind the Mickey mask in the film.

Mr Phillips told the BBC that “putting Mickey in a family movie doesn’t cover new ground.”

mickey

Mickey Mouse Horror Film Unveiled As Copyright Ends

“In order to flip the coin, you have to come up with something that’s the polar opposite of what already exists,” he explained.

The film’s release date has yet to be determined, but it is believed to be in March.

Early copyright expires for Minnie with Mickey Mouse.

Every recent Disney film honours the English village.

The Disney 100th Anniversary Global Exhibition opens in London.
Not to be outdone, a new video game starring the 1928 version of Mickey has been released.

According to Nightmare Forge Games, Infestation 88 is a survival horror game in which a vermin infestation transforms into something more evil.

At the trailer’s beginning, a man can be heard fearfully saying, “I thought it was just rodents, but there’s something else in here.”
A massive, blood-splattered Mickey then appears on screen, surrounded by mice.

mickey

Mickey Mouse Horror Film Unveiled As Copyright Ends

According to a representative at Nightmare Forge Games, Steamboat Willie’s entry into the public domain “allowed us to include our own derivation of the film’s starring character in our game, which fits perfectly as an antagonist causing an infestation.”

The mouse is hardly the first kid character to be adapted into a horror film.

When Winnie the Pooh became public domain, the endearing bear was adapted into the R-rated horror thriller Blood and Honey, one of the year’s lowest-rated films.

According to US copyright law, characters’ rights can be kept for 95 years, implying that Steamboat Willie’s characters entered the public domain on January 1, 2024.

In the past, Disney was threatened with losing the rights to its original cartoons.

The characters were supposed to enter the public domain in 1984, but Congress extended the duration by another 20 years.

Another 20-year extension was authorized before the next expiry date in 2004.

Because of Disney’s efforts to safeguard its characters, the bill has been called “the Mickey Mouse Protection Act.” But the moment arrived, and it was hailed as “deeply symbolic” by experts.

The corporation maintains a distinct trademark on the mouse as a brand identity and corporate mascot. That means the public can still utilize these photographs in limited ways.

And, according to Disney, more current renditions of Mickey are still protected by copyright.

“We will, of course, continue to protect our rights in the more modern versions of Mouse and other works that remain subject to copyright,” the business said in a statement.

SOURCE – BBC

Kiara Grace is a staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. Her writing focuses on technology trends, particularly in the realm of consumer electronics and software. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics.

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Sonic the Hedgehog Dominates Christmas Wish Lists

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Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog Merchandise are hot Christmas Items

Sonic the Hedgehog is dominating Christmas wish lists this year. The lovable blue hedgehog is back in the spotlight, from sonic the hedgehog toys and games to sonic the hedgehog coloring pages and movie hype.

Sonic-themed holiday merchandise is on fire, from quirky sweaters to action figures flying off shelves. Sonic the Hedgehog Christmas outfits for kids are selling out fast, making them a go-to gift option for festive fun.

Retailers have been quick to recognize Sonic’s holiday appeal. Special promotions and exclusive items, like the Sonic holiday t-shirts, are everywhere.

Everyone’s stocking up on Sonic merchandise, from big-box stores to boutique retailers.

Online shopping platforms are seeing a surge in searches for Sonic items. Whether it’s Sonic Christmas-themed tops or Sonic the Hedgehog coloring pages, Sonic the Hedgehog toys or Sonic and the Hedgehog 3, the demand is skyrocketing.

Retailers who tap into this trend are sure to see strong holiday sales.

Sonic has been around since the early 90s, but his popularity never wanes. With the release of Sonic 3, fans are more excited than ever.

sonic the hedgehog 4

Sonic the Hedgehog 4

Meanwhile, Paramount Pictures is preparing “Sonic the Hedgehog 4,” with the newest addition in the family-friendly genre set for a spring 2027 release.

The announcement comes as “Sonic 3” opens in theatres on Friday, estimated to gross $55 million to $60 million from 3,800 North American locations.

The sequel is shaping up to be a good holiday season blockbuster for Paramount, which explains the desire in future “Sonic” adventures. On the international front, the film will be released on Christmas Day in 52 markets.

On Rotten Tomatoes, critics gave “Sonic 3” an outstanding 87% fresh score.

The first two films grossed a total of $725.2 million at the global box office and generated over $180 million in global consumer expenditure through home entertainment rentals and digital purchases.

They also inspired a spinoff Paramount+ series, “Knuckles,” which premiered earlier this year.

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Amazon Strike Called By Teamsters Union 10,000 Walkout

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Amazon Strike Called By Teamsters Union
Teamsters members were demonstrating at "hundreds" of other Amazon locations.

An Amazon strike has hit facilities in the United States in an effort by the Teamsters union to pressure the corporation for a labour agreement during a peak shopping season.

The Teamsters union told the Associated Press that Amazon delivery drivers at seven facilities in the United States walked off the job on Thursday after the firm failed to discuss a labour contract.

According to the union, Amazon employees in Teamsters union jackets were protesting at “hundreds” of additional Amazon facilities, which the union billed as the “largest strike” in US history involving the company.

The corporation, which employs over 800,000 people in its US delivery network, stated that its services will be unaffected.

It was unclear how many people, including members of Germany’s United Services Union, participated in Thursday’s demonstration. The Teamsters union reported that thousands of Amazon employees were implicated in the United States.

Amazon Strike at 10 Locations

Overall, the group claims to represent “nearly 10,000” Amazon strikers, having signed up thousands of people at roughly ten locations across the country, many of whom have joined in recent months.

The organization has claimed recognition from Amazon going on strike, claiming the firm illegally neglected its obligation to bargain collectively over salary and working conditions.

The Teamsters is a long-standing US union with nearly one million members. It is well-known for securing lucrative contracts for its members at companies like delivery behemoth UPS.

Most of the Teamsters’ Amazon campaigns have concerned drivers working for third-party delivery companies that partner with the tech behemoth.

Amazon denies that it is liable as an employer in those circumstances, which is a point of legal contention. In at least one case, labour officials have taken a preliminary stance in favour of the union.

Stalled Contract Negotiations

Amazon employees at a major warehouse on Staten Island in New York have also chosen to join the Teamsters. Their warehouse is the only Amazon facility in the United States where labour officials have formally recognized a union win.

However, the Amazon strike is because contract negotiations have not progressed since the 2022 vote. It was not one of the areas scheduled to go on strike on Thursday.

Amazon, one of the largest employers in the United States, has long received criticism for its working conditions and has been the target of activists seeking to gain traction among its employees.

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Amazon Encounters Numerous Strikes As Unions Aim At The Holiday Shopping Surge.

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Amazon

(VOR News) – Thousands of Amazon employees at various sites across the country were scheduled to go on strike on Thursday in an effort by the Teamsters union to pressure the retail behemoth to acknowledge its unionised workers in the United States.

The walkout is expected to concentrate on seven Amazon locations across the country during the holiday purchasing surge and may be the most significant union action against Amazon in the nation’s history.

The business announced on Thursday morning that there had been no effect on operations. It also stated that it is “continuing to concentrate on fulfilling customers’ holiday orders.”

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters maintains that it represents more than 10,000 Amazon employees and contractors in aviation centres, warehouses, and delivery centres.

Amazon has refused to acknowledge the union for many years.

The retail giant, which employs approximately 1.5 million individuals, excludes contractors and part-timers. A strike has been initiated by delivery couriers and warehouse employees at seven distinct locations in order to exert pressure on the company to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement that would encompass modifications to compensation, amenities, and working conditions.

Picketing was intended for New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Skokie, Illinois.

Also, the Teamsters assert that they are establishing picket lines at “hundreds” of additional warehouses and delivery centres by encouraging non-unionized workers to picket under U.S. labour law, which protects workers’ ability to take collective action to further their interests.

“Amazon workers are exercising their power,” Randy Korgan stated to NPR.

“They now realise there is a pathway to take on a corporate giant like this – and that they hold the power.” Amazon responds by accusing the Teamsters of fabricating information regarding the strikes, asserting that the participants are “entirely” outsiders rather than employees or subcontractors of the corporation.

Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated that “the reality is that they were unable to secure sufficient support from our employees and partners and have invited external parties to harass and intimidate our team.” For more than a year, the Teamsters have been intentionally misleading the public by claiming to represent “thousands of employees and drivers.” They do not.

The Teamsters did not provide a specific duration for the strike; however, they informed NPR that it would extend beyond one day. Workers would receive $1,000 per week in strike money, as per the union.

Teamsters President Sean O’Brien issued a statement in which he stated, “If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can attribute it to Amazon’s insatiable greed.” We established a firm deadline for Amazon to attend the meeting and treat our members equitably. They disregarded it.

The Teamsters granted until December 15 to convene with its unionised employees and develop a collective bargaining agreement.

Amazon has opposed all unionisation efforts in court, asserting that unions were not advantageous to its employees and emphasising the compensation and benefits that the organisation currently provides.

Amazon has been accused of discriminatory labour practices on numerous occasions, including the termination of labour organisers. Furthermore, it has disputed its official status as a contract employer.

Teamsters organize Amazon delivery couriers and other employees.

In June, Amazon established its first unionised warehouse in Staten Island, New York, two years after making history by voting to join the fledgling Amazon Labour Union, which is also affiliated with the Teamsters.

The union is one of the most influential in the United States and Canada, with 1.3 million members. On Thursday, the German United Services Union declared that Amazon employees in Germany would participate in a strike in conjunction with their American counterparts.

In the past, Amazon has experienced demonstrations in Germany and Spain that were related to the holiday season in order to advocate for improved wages and working conditions.

“The holiday season has arrived.” Delivery is anticipated. Patricia Campos-Medina, the executive director of Cornell University’s Worker Institute, asserts that “this is the moment in which workers have control over the supply chain.”

The Teamsters have reported that Amazon’s profits have increased both during and after the pandemic. The corporation is currently valued at over $2.3 trillion, with net income of $15 billion in the most recent quarter alone. It is the second-largest private employer in the United States, following Walmart.

SOURCE: NPR

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