Dell Four Color #67, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit

[bminor]

I have a Dell four color #67, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.

Is Oswald in the public domain? I sauntered over the "what is and what is not public domain" area on DCM and there is a daunting amount of data to thread through.
While my mind begins to digest what I perused upon that area, I thought I would ask here.

If it is indeed PD I will scan it and upload.

Once again I thank DCM for the countless hours of enjoyment in all the books that are presented free here for all to enjoy.
I also thank everyone for sharing here on the forum our love for these crumbling dime masterpieces of Americana.

Yours,
 
bminor

[Yoc]

Hi B,
Many of the Dell4C books have already been scanned but for various reasons they aren't on DCM.
The main being time to check and be sure they are safe.

I quickly checked the Copyright site here and got a result that was new to me -
http://tinyurl.com/3o5xram

What that means, heck if I know for sure.  It sounds like it 'might' be Ok but until JohnC or Aussie approves it.  It's why I personally HATE most of the Dell line for the never ending headache they are to check.

[bminor]

I always thought that Oswald was created by Walt Disney way back in the 1920's.
Pat Powers took Oswald away from Walt, who then went on to create Mickey Mouse.

The following from your link...
Title:    Oswald, the lucky rabbit / created by Michael Uslan.

I will await the decision of the moderators before I go any further!

b.

[John C]

I feel like we had the Oswald discussion at some point, but can't find it and don't recall what the result is.  I remember it giving me a headache, though, with a bunch of people and/or companies involved.

Keep in mind that the database only starts at 1978, Yoc, which means that the earliest renewal possible is for 1950, so it's by no means a complete picture of renewals.

[Dell4c]

it is scanned so I can upload it if you Ok it. Just let me know

[Yoc]

Thanks for the offer Dell but until John or Aussie gives the 'Ok' we better ask you to hold off.

[RJ Bowman]

As part of a recent deal with Universal, Disney acquired the rights to Oswald. Disney used the character in a video game within the last year. They are enforcing their copyright on this character. How this effects scans of 60 year old comics I don't know.

[Yoc]

Interesting.  Thanks for the info RJ.

[josemas]

The rights to the Oswald cartoons are a little more complex. 
Disney did reaquire rights to the character (trademark) and to the early Oswald cartoons (copyright) that had been produced by Disney in the 1920s.  Rights to the later cartoons produced by Margaret Winkler/Charles Mintz and Walter Lantz and all related products are still retained by Universal. 
Both Disney and Universal have released Oswald cartoons on DVD collections in recent years.  A few of the Universal Oswald cartoons have also fallen into the public domain and are available on PD cartoon collections. 
The question as regards this specific comic (which would have been produced during Universal's period of ownership) would be if the copyright was renewed on that specific issue.  If it wasn't it is PD and should be available for inclusion here on DCM.

Best

Joe

PS  Here's a link to the Wikipedia entry on Oswald which is pretty well done.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oswald_the_Lucky_Rabbit