公有领域并非可自由行事之地—动画业者和创意人士应避免的知识产权陷阱

本周我在曼彻斯特动画节参与了众多关于迪士尼在美国的《汽船威利号》中的的首版米奇老鼠的版权保护即将到期的讨论。动画业者复制或改编进入公有领域的角色形象是一个热门话题，因此我想在此更详细地考虑一些问题。

During my time at The Manchester Animation Festival this week I have had lots of conversations about the imminent expiry of copyright vested in Disney’s first version of Mickey Mouse, Steamboat Willie, in the USA. The ability for animators to reproduce or adapt the appearance of characters that are entering the public domain is a hot topic, so I thought I would consider the issues in some more detail.

版权保护保护思想的表达，包括角色的形象。在美国，《汽船威力号》享有的版权保护持续期间为95年，并将在2023年底到期。

Copyright protects the expression of ideas, including the appearance of characters. In the USA, copyright vested in Steamboat Willie lasts for 95 years, and is due to expire at the end of 2023.

在该版权到期之后，美国的任何第三方将能够复制与改编该作品且不属于侵权行为，因此在2024年将可能出现大量有兴趣制作《汽船威利号》相关作品的动画业者。

Upon the expiry of that copyright, third parties in the USA will be able to reproduce and adapt the work in question without infringement, so in 2024 there are likely to be a large number of animators interested in producing Steamboat Willie related works.

动画业者需要理解的一个重要事项是在2023年底到期的版权仅限于特定的版权作品：即最原始的《汽船威利号》版本中的米老鼠。因此复制及改编该版本的作品虽被允许，但是动画业者是不能使用最新流行版本的米老鼠作品的。该版本在美国的版权保护将在2030年到期，同时迪士尼仍拥有美国商标注册来保护更新角色的外形。因此，举例而言，一只含有白手套、红裤子以及黑上衣的复制版米老鼠可能会对后期再版的米老鼠外形构成版权及商标侵权。

It is important for animators to understand that the copyright set to expire at the end of 2023 is very specific; it is the copyright vested in the original Steamboat Willie version of Mickey Mouse. Thus, reproductions and adaptations of that version may be permissible, but animators will not be in a position to use the current and most recognisable version of Mickey Mouse. Copyright in that version will expire in the USA in 2030, while Disney also own US trade mark registrations that protect the appearance of that updated character. So, for example, a reproduction of Mickey Mouse that includes white gloves, red trousers and a black jacket could constitute copyright and trade mark infringement in relation to the appearance of the later iteration of Mickey Mouse.  

欲自2024年后复制或改编《汽船威利号》美国的动画业者亦应知晓他们使用该角色形象的方式不得导致消费者将新作品与迪士尼产生关联。举例而言，迪士尼拥有下列名称的美国商标注册，指定服务为“娱乐服务”以及“动画电影”：

• MICKEY MOUSE

• DISNEY

US animators who reproduce or adapt Steamboat Willie from 2024 onwards should also be aware that the manner in which they use the character should not result in consumers associating the new works with Disney. For example, Disney owns US trade mark registrations for the following terms, claiming “entertainment services” and “animated films”:

• MICKEY MOUSE

• DISNEY

在复制《汽船威利号》的动画作品的载体上或标题上使用这些商标，或将构成商标侵权，因此须得避免。此外，如果存在消费者混淆之虞，使用类似的名称亦可能构成商标侵权。

Use of these trade marks in the body of animated works that reproduce Steamboat Willie, or in the titles of such works, would arguably constitute trade mark infringement and should therefore be avoided. Additionally, use of similar terms can also constitute trade mark infringement if there is scope for consumer confusion.

从美国的AA Milne的《小熊维尼》原始版本的版权保护在2022年1月到期之后，我们已经看到第三方怎样绕开这种情况的实际案例。这就导致一些对原创作品的复制和改编作品获得了很高的关注，尽管需要再次注意的是迪士尼仍然对他们所拥有的红色T恤版本的小熊维尼的外形拥有版权。动画业者因此应注意不要对该版本进行复制或改编，因为从表面上看或将侵犯迪士尼的现行权利。

We have seen practical examples of how third parties have navigated a situation like this, following the expiry in January 2022 of the copyright protection for the original version of AA Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh in the USA. This has resulted in some high profile reproductions and adaptations of the original work, though again it is important to note that Disney still own copyright in the appearance of their own red t-shirted version of Winnie the Pooh.  Animators should therefore take care not to reproduce or adapt that version as it would, on the face of it, infringe Disney’s ongoing rights.

迪士尼还拥有对“Winnie the Pooh”(迪士尼版本的名字没有使用破折号)，在上文中已经介绍，随意使用或将构成商标侵权。但Ryan Reynold获得高关注度的移动电话广告“Winnie-the-screwed”算是被允许的，因为它复制了AA Milne的原始版的未穿红T恤的维尼小熊，且未与迪士尼产生关联。并且“Winnie-the-screwed”亦与“Winnie the Pooh”存在足够明显的区别，因此规避了对迪士尼的注册商标的侵权。

Disney also own trade mark registrations for the name “Winnie the Pooh” (the Disney version does not use hyphens), which could be infringed as outlined earlier in the article. Ryan Reynolds’s high profile mobile phone advert “Winnie-the-screwed” was arguably permissible because it reproduced AA Milne’s original version of Winnie-the-Pooh, who does not wear a red t-shirt, and made no association with Disney. Furthermore, “Winne-the-screwed” is arguably sufficiently far removed from “Winnie the Pooh” to avoid infringement of Disney’s trade mark registration.

但是，有一部名为“Winnie-The-Pooh Blood and Honey”的新动作电影，其中有一版恐怖的、穿着红竖纹格子的T恤的、在被Christopher Robin抛弃后挥舞着长柄锤子屠杀少年儿童的维尼熊形象。对于迪士尼仍享有的对小熊维尼角色的受保护的权利来说，这个作品的复制改编行为可能有点铤而走险了。这部恐怖电影的制片人的处理方式肯定是存在一定的法律风险的。

However, there is also a new live action movie entitled “Winnie-The-Pooh Blood and Honey”, which will see a horrific, red plaid shirted, sledge hammer wielding, version of the usually loveable character slaughtering teenagers after being abandoned by Christopher Robin This arguably sails very close to the wind with respect to Disney’s remaining protected rights in the Winnie The Pooh character, and there is certainly some legal risk associated with the approach taken by the producers of the horror movie.

英国的动画业者需要知道的重要事项是《汽船威利号》和小熊维尼在英国的版权均未到期。但是欲考虑复制现处于公有领域的其他过期的版权作品的英国动画业者应当警惕上文讨论事项。

It is important for UK-based animators to note that copyright in Steamboat Willie and Winnie-the-Pooh is yet to expire in the UK. However, UK animators that are considering reproducing other previously copyrighted works now in the public domain should be mindful of the issues set out above.

应避免使用与已经进入公有领域的角色的后期重复版本有关联的注册商标，因为有可能产生消费者的混淆。即使争议作品为改编作品，例如利用已处于公共领域的作品推出面向成人的恐怖版本，在新作品中使用注册商标的行为可能依然构成侵权，因为这些商标享有知名度，而第三方动画业者的使用会不正当利用或损害该知名度。

Use of registered trade marks that are associated with later iterations of characters that have entered the public domain should be avoided, as there is scope for consumer confusion. Even if the work in question is an adaptation, such as a horror version of a public domain work directed at adults, the use of registered trade marks in new works could still constitute infringement on the basis that those trade marks enjoy a reputation and that the third party animators' use is detrimental to, or taking unfair advantage of, that reputation.

对商标享有商誉的主体而言，英国的反假冒法律亦允许其在消费者可能因被欺骗而认为争议作品在经济上与商誉的所有人而非第三方相关联、或来源于该所有人的情况下，有权制止第三方使用该商标的行为。

The law of passing off in the UK also allows an entity that enjoys goodwill in a trade mark to prevent third party use where consumers would be deceived into the belief that the work in question is economically linked to, or originates from, the owner of the goodwill and not the third party.  

另外亦值得注意的是英国法院最近认为构成一个角色的个性化特征能受到版权保护。一家提供“只有傻瓜的用餐体验”的公司被判侵犯了Del Boy角色的文学作品版权，因为在体验活动中的演员复制了受原创剧本保护的该角色的几个关键元素和标志性语言。这是英国法院首次做出此类性质的裁定。因此动画业者创作的作品同时复制角色的外形兼个性化特征的，应注意该案例的影响。

It is also worth noting that the UK Courts have recently held that the personality features that make up a character are capable of copyright protection. A company that offered an 'Only Fools The (cushty) Dining Experience' was found to infringe the literary copyright in the Del Boy Character, as the actors involved in the experience reproduced key elements and catchphrases of that character as protected by the original scripts. This is the first time that the UK Courts have issued a decision of this nature and it should be borne in mind by animators who are creating works that reproduce elements of characters' personalities in addition to their appearance. 

尽管版权具有时限限制，但商标注册可获无限期续展。因此在上述讨论的例子中，尽管《汽船威利号》在美国的版权到期，迪士尼仍有能力制止第三方在其任何复制或改编作品中关联迪士尼或米老鼠的行为。对于动画业者和制片公司而言，商标注册是一项可以用于可无限期地保护和执行角色名称和外形相关权利的强有力的工具。

Whilst copyright is time limited, trade mark registrations can be renewed indefinitely, so in the example discussed above Disney will still retain an ability to seek to prevent third parties from creating an association with Disney or Mickey Mouse in any reproductions or adaptations, despite the expiry of the Steamboat Willie copyright in the US. Trade mark registrations are therefore a powerful tool for animators and production companies to protect and enforce rights in characters names and appearance indefinitely.

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联系作者 Contact the author

gmurray@marks-clerk.com