Comment Re:This is what the US has become (Score 2) 137
You're mixing up things.
The original Mickey Mouse movies are indeed old enough to be in the public domain, based on the principles of copyright.
This doesn't necessarily mean the character Mickey Mouse, or its likeness, should be in the public domain as well.
Even less so for trademarks, which do not have a set expiry date: a trademark is yours from the moment you start using it, until you stop using it. It doesn't necessarily have to be registered - though that does make defending it easier. Also, unlike copyright, a trademark must be defended at all times or you may risk losing it. Allowing a company to use your trademark for some time and then going after it (like patent trolls like to do with patented stuff) makes you risk losing your trademark rights altogether.