I also agree with annap's "phooey" to the following extent: All these Mickey Mouse legalities might be easier to bear if we had a copyright law that actually benefitted its intended beneficiaries--authors and the public--rather than beneffiting Mickey Mouse at the expense of authors and the public.

In other words (I know I've posted these thought before, but they bear repeating)

1) the term of copyright needs to be shorter;

2) the termination-of-transfer provisions need to be strengthened in authors' favor;

3) the boundaries of fair use need to be broadened somewhat;

4) the performance licensing system needs to be reformed;

5) and I'm sure I can come up with more gripes in time.

T.