Robin,

I'm not sure, but you might be mixing your Disney characters with your Warner Brothers/Looney Tunes characters. Bugs, Daffy Duck and Elmer are Warner Bros. Donald Duck is Disney (along with Mickey Mouse, Goofy, etc.).

I use to work for Disney and live in the Disney Capital of Orlando, FL. Trust me, Disney would never, ever allow anything to pass into public domain through inaction. If your local TV station is showing any Disney material, they are paying Disney to do so.

Disney agressively defends their copyrights. For example, about 10 years ago, Disney brought suit against a daycare nursery in Tampa Florida for using paintings of Disney characters on their walls. The daycare was forced to paint over the paintings. Also, any graphic arts company that Disney contracts with to do work, must sign a contract that includes a clause that prohibits the company from showing any of their Disney work to other people. This includes using the work as examples to prospective new clients. I have a friend who works in a company that does about 80% of their work for Disney. Since they cannot show their Disney work, they struggle to get non-Disney contracts even though they are really good (as could be evidneced by Disney's use of the company). They cannot even hang their Disney artwork on the walls of the office.

Disney is famous for covering up things that embarass them. They are embarassed about their help with propaganda during WWII - partially because it is somewhat embarassing (though not in a historical context) and partially because they would like people to forget that prior to U.S. involvement in WWII, Walt Disney, himself, was an general admirer of Hitler (as were many U.S. business leaders of the time).

Another example of Disney's self-censorship is the non-availability of the animated & live action movie "Song of the South" Which was based on the Uncle Remus stories of Brer Rabbit, etal. I haven't seen it since the last time it was re-released in the theatres in 1979 or 1980. Never on video either, except in Japan. Yep that's right, Japan. It seems that they have a love of "darkies" and minstrel-like performances. Disney sells "Song of the South" there without fear of embarassment. It's a shame - it's a good movie and the protrayals of blacks is little different that that of Gone With the Wind.

But I digress.