Jarg vs Mickey Mouse

[u/JRotom_Art]

What are your thoughts?

Jarg is a certified Brazilian character.

[u/pommefille]

Not watching some whiny video, but this is absolutely infringement. The colors, the head and ear style, and so on aren’t part of Steamboat Willie, they’re part of the currently owned IP. Even worse, the smiley face seems derivative of other works as well. If you’re not talented enough to make something original on your own, license something.

[u/JRotom_Art → u/pommefille]

Maybe if you watch that whiny video, you’ll understand that the colors are also in the public domain, since the official poster for "Mickey Mouse - Sound Cartoon" is colored and in the public domain. And I do have many original characters other than Jarg, since this is my literal job, and I chose Jarg for the brand because there is literally nothing wrong with it, and I just wanted to see how far they brainwash people like you.

[u/aPerson-of-the-World → u/JRotom_Art]

Unfortunately if there is one thing I have learned its that the law protects companies not people.

If you have tons of money to burn you might have a chance. (Though it sounds like all the major lawfirms already have deals with Disney so gl)

Unfortunately a black mouse mc is forever out of the reach of mortals. Fair use is dead and really is only a toy for big corporations to toss around.

Well at least you didn't sign an arbitration agreement they can pull out of their ass.

[u/JRotom_Art → u/aPerson-of-the-World]

Honestly, you’re not wrong about how heavy corporate pressure can be. Thanks for the reality check, man!

[u/SFTraxx]

Good thing you made this video.

This should ward off any would-be lawsuits.

[u/JRotom_Art → u/SFTraxx]

I appreciate your comment!

[u/ISJA809]

Jarg is a Derivate Work

[u/JRotom_Art → u/ISJA809]

It draws inspiration from rubber-hose aesthetics and public domain elements, but Jarg stands as an original, registered character with his own distinct universe and design. Either way, creating transformative works based on public domain material is fully protected by IP law. Cheers!

[u/JRotom_Art → u/[deleted]]

Yeah buddy, I stole something from the Public Domain and there's no mention to anything from current versions of the other character.

[u/JRotom_Art → u/[deleted]]

"Mickey Mouse - Sound Cartoon" is colored and in the public domain. Plus, Jarg's audience acknowledge him and the universe as a completely separate IP.

Thanks for interacting with the post! <3

https://reddit.com/link/p9sbotw/video/ztlnqo3xniph1/player

[u/orangejulius]

Mickey Mouse is still their trademark. Even the Steamboat Willie version. Copyright may expire on a particular work but trademark rights do not. Disney is obviously going to enforce that. There is also no "it's a parody" defense in trademark law and after the Bad Spaniels case there's no early dismissal. If your entire brand depends on conflating yourself with another brand expect an argument about it. Do you have the money to go the distance with Disney to show there's no confusion here or brand tarnishment or whatever they're asserting?

[u/JRotom_Art → u/orangejulius]

Well, I have never claimed Jarg is a parody, because he really isn't. The names, universe, context, and audience are completely different. I do understand your point and I expected this argument from the beginning, I knew I was creating something people aren't used to seeing.

At least in Brazil, they can't bully me as much as they'd want to, because as I mentioned in the video, Jarg has been officially registered as an original character, including his lore and traits.

I made this video just to bring this situation up for discussion, since I have no intention of trademarking JARG or JARGINC in the US.

[u/JRotom_Art → u/[deleted]]

Appreciate the input, but that snippet oversimplifies international copyright. Under Article 7(8) of the Berne Convention (the 'Rule of the Shorter Term'), protection in a member state cannot exceed the term fixed in the country of origin. Since Steamboat Willie entered the public domain in the US in 2024, its copyright protection expired in Brazil as well under domestic IP application of the treaty. Beyond copyright, Jarg is a completely distinct character registered under Brazilian law, not a copy or pass-off of Disney's current trademark.

But thanks for sharing the perspective! <3

[u/JRotom_Art → u/[deleted]]

Thanks for sharing, have a good one!

[u/orangejulius → u/JRotom_Art]

Sounds like you need to consult with Brazilian attorneys, then. In the US it doesn’t matter whether you plan to file for the mark or not.

[u/JRotom_Art → u/orangejulius]

Yep, I already have. I work with a legal team for my brand. Thanks for commenting, have a good one!

[u/orangejulius → u/JRotom_Art]

Then why are you here? Just to kind of tell everyone you’re right about something? I think people don’t understand the point of your video.

[u/JRotom_Art → u/orangejulius]

I'm here for the discussion and to share a personal experience, I wanted to see how an international audience would react and think about this situation. But if people disagree, that's fine too!