Sen. Josh Hawley has proposed new legislation that would limit copyright protection to 56 years, and the limitations would apply retroactively (via THR). Hawley admits that the new bill is effectively retaliation against Disney and what he calls “pandering” to “woke activists” following Disney’s statement in support of LGBTQIA+ individuals after the “Don’t Say Gay” law was signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in late March.

For their part, Disney has repeatedly lobbied for extensions to copyright law. After originally being afforded 56-year protection, Disney eventually was able to secure 95-year copyright protection via the Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998. Disney’s current copyright on Steamboat Willie is set to expire in 2024, pending further legislation that could either extend the copyright or, in the case of the proposed Copyright Clause Restoration Act of 2022, strip the copyright immediately.

As outlined by The Hollywood Reporter, there have been several versions of Mickey Mouse since the original design that would expire in 2024 and each unique design would be protected under a new copyright term.

This bill is just the latest in the ongoing attack from varying levels of Republican officials deadset on punishing Disney for taking a stance as a corporation against the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

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