Disney Buys Fox

[willard]

Comcast's Brian Roberts is talking to Disney's Bob Iger the only way he can — through opaque M&A strategy
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/11/comcast ... x-bid.html

Maybe Disney will allow Comcast to take the rest of Sky and this madness can end.

[Sotiris]

When will this bidding war end? ~sigh~

21st Century Fox Ups Sky Bid To $32.5B, Topping Rival Comcast
https://deadline.com/2018/07/21st-centu ... 202424471/

Comcast Raises Its Offer For Sky To $34B, Continuing Battle With Fox
https://deadline.com/2018/07/comcast-ra ... 202424949/

[Jules]

And then Disney can't pony up a few extra millions to invest in a relatively inexpensive hand-drawn feature. Just think of all the films that could be made with a fraction of all that cash. Sigh.

[Mickeyfan1990]

Oh there's good news today!!!:

https://www.comicbookmovie.com/avengers ... me-a162151

[willard]

It seems Disney and Comcast are making a gentlemen's agreement.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... id-for-sky

[Rumpelstiltskin]

From what I have heard about Comcast (we don't have it where I live), it would be better off for the whole industry if it went bankrupt or fell victim for a hostile takeover or something, because it sounds like they want to establish themselves in Europe.

Either way, good news that the Marvel family is all under the same roof. Not sure how it works with Fantastic Four since a German company has the rights, but it should be just a formality. The only problem that remains then is Hulk and Namor, which partly still belongs to Universal.
(And the TV-shows, which are made by others than Disney, but as long as they are great and entertaining, it really doesn't matter.)

And, since only ten days remains till we know the answer for sure, it means one can start the countdown.

[willard]

I wonder if Disney is also seeing this as an opportunity to exploit more copyrighted material. Their hasn't been any word on them trying to extend their own copyrights again.

[Big Disney Fan]

I wonder if Disney is also seeing this as an opportunity to exploit more copyrighted material. Their hasn't been any word on them trying to extend their own copyrights again.

Does that mean that they may or may not let the copyright on Mickey Mouse run out?

[Rumpelstiltskin]

I doubt we will see any extension of the copyrights:

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/201 ... sion-push/

The rise of the Internet has totally changed the political landscape on copyright issues. The Electronic Frontier Foundation is much larger than it was in 1998. Other groups, including Public Knowledge, didn't even exist 20 years ago. Internet companies—especially Google—have become powerful opponents of expanding copyright protections.

Not only are there many more copyright reform advocates in Washington now than there were 20 years ago, but they're also well-networked with other public interest groups, she told Ars in a phone interview. As a result, there are "a lot of different eyes on different bills."

And even some content creators aren't keen on ever-longer copyright terms. The Authors Guild, for example, "does not support extending the copyright term, especially since many of our members benefit from having access to a thriving and substantial public domain of older works," a Guild spokeswoman told Ars in an email. "If anything, we would likely support a rollback to a term of life-plus-50 if it were politically feasible."

When Bill Clinton signed the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act which added 20 more years to wait before something entered public domain, it happened more or less without anyone's knowledge. No media wrote about it, there were no protesters or grassroot movements because those very few who were aware had to way to make their voice heard. What Clinton did back then would almost certainly have been impossible to do today. Let them try, and all hell will break loose.

[Disney's Divinity]

All hell breaks loose daily these days and it doesn't stop much worse things from happening than a copyright extension.

[Rumpelstiltskin]

Some things are easier to prevent or change than others. Just look at what happened to John Lasseter. There is only five months left to extend it further before it's too late. After that it will be a lot harder to do something about it. So unless something dramatically happen, Steamboat Willy will finally enter pubic domain a little over five years from now. Then the whole "Free Steamboat Willy" campaign will at last be a thing of the past. (What will happen to Snow White remains to be seen, but that's so many years into the future that I don't bother to think about it.)

[willard]

Does that mean that they may or may not let the copyright on Mickey Mouse run out?

Mickey the character will be protected by trademark.

http://copyright.nova.edu/mickey-public-domain/

[willard]

Comcast Drops Out of Bidding War With Disney for 21st Century Fox Assets

https://variety.com/2018/biz/news/comca ... 202878103/

[unprincess]

Comcast must be pleased with themselves for forcing Disney to pay extravagantly for Fox by refusing to drop out of the bidding war. They should work for eBay.

Well I guess its cool the X-men/F4 will no longer be banned from the minds and hearts of children and fans(like Disney's done with Avengers)...dont know if that will be worth Disney putting the final nail in the coffin of what once was their former identity.

[Mickeyfan1990]

And all 6 original SW films together forever more (all that's left is to restore the Fox logo and fanfare to the post-ANH films).

[Rumpelstiltskin]

Guess this means X-Men and Fantastic Four will finally be reunited with the rest of the Marvel universe. This cause for a celebration, and what better way to celebrate than a dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLI6Rj_xEUQ

[Big Disney Fan]

Does that mean that they may or may not let the copyright on Mickey Mouse run out?

Mickey the character will be protected by trademark.

http://copyright.nova.edu/mickey-public-domain/

Does that mean, then, that at least the Steamboat Willie Mickey, if not Mickey Mouse, period, will be in the public domain soon?

[Sotiris]

It's officially over!

Fox Holders Approve Disney Merger and Megadeal Reaches Next Stage
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... next-stage

[Mickeyfan1990]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roRQ2mNwMMQ

[Rumpelstiltskin]

Glad that thing is finally over. The only remaining question for the moment is what will happen to Sky. As already mentioned; from what I have heard of Comcast, I have no interest in seeing them establishing themselves in Europe.

Also, a little sad that Disney had to pay so many billions extra to beat Comcast. It's gonna take a long time before they break even.