[hackiavelli]

I believe existing IP law already covers this. Disney still maintains exclusivity over Mickey as one of their trademarks (and will forever). It's the Steamboat Willie shorts themselves that would be going into the public domain when the copyright expires.

[yakk0]

A good example is the Fleischer Superman cartoons. No one disputes that DC (and Warner Bros.) owns Superman, but these cartoons have all entered the public domain.