GOP targets Disney’s Mickey Mouse copyright, says company ‘influencing small children’ with ‘sexual agenda’

Almost two dozen lawmakers on the Republican Examine Fee (RSC) despatched a letter Thursday to Walt Disney Firm CEO Bob Chapek, declaring their opposition to renewing the corporate’s copyright on Mickey Mouse, which is ready to run out in 2024. 

RSC Chair Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana spearheaded the letter, which cites Disney’s ties to China and the corporate’s “political and sexual agenda” as their motive for opposing a copyright extension. 

Disney has come below rising political fireplace for attacking Florida’s parental rights invoice. 

PROTESTERS PLAN RALLY AT DISNEY’S CALIFORNIA HQ

“Lately, Disney has sought to increase enterprise in China by kowtowing to its Communist regime, which is actively engaged in human rights abuses and the theft of U.S. mental property. Disney even filmed a film in Xinjiang province, the place officers are at present waging genocide in opposition to Uyghur Muslims, then thanked native Communist Get together authorities within the film credit,” the Republican members wrote. 

The Republican lawmakers argue Disney “has capitulated to far-left activists by hypocritical, woke company actions,” citing the corporate’s opposition to the Florida parental rights invoice. 

“Disney has mentioned it desires this legislation repealed though it has broad help amongst Florida residents, particularly dad and mom. A senior Disney worker was not too long ago caught on digicam saying she desires ‘many, many, many LGBTQIA characters in our tales.’ And in response to a Disney worker, Disney’s Range Fairness and Inclusion division, ‘expanded by an astonishing 633 p.c in 2019–21, on the identical time that almost each different division was contracting by 25–75 p.c,’” the lawmakers wrote. 

“This means Disney is purposefully influencing young children with its political and sexual agenda.” 

Republicans say Disney could also be “purposefully influencing young children with its political and sexual agenda.” 
(REUTERS/Scott Audette/File Photograph)

The lawmakers famous that “the Structure offers Congress the authority to find out the size of time to guard copyrights. Additional, it explicitly states that copyrights will not be everlasting. But Disney’s lengthy historical past of lobbying on this difficulty suggests that’s its aim.” 

The newest copyright extension was in 1998 by the Sonny Bono Copyright Extension Act, also referred to as the “Mickey Mouse Safety Act” due to Disney’s intensive lobbying efforts. Congress additionally prolonged copyright protections in 1976. Whereas the invoice applies to all copyrights equally, it was handed on the behest of Disney.

Becoming a member of Reps. Banks on the letter are almost two dozen Republicans, together with Ronny Jackson of Texas, Debbie Lesko of Arizona, Vicky Hartzler of Missouri and Burgess Owens of Utah, amongst others. 

“Our Structure explicitly states copyrights weren’t meant to final perpetually, but Disney’s relentless lobbying signifies they intend to subvert this clause. If Disney desires to assault American values and younger households, Congress shouldn’t reward them,” Banks mentioned in an announcement to Fox Information Digital. 

“Thanks to the almost two dozen members of the Republican Examine Committee who joined me in pledging to oppose particular remedy for Disney.”

The letter concludes that it is “unlucky that Disney, as soon as an American success story, has allied with a hostile overseas regime and home ideologues who search to tear our nation aside.” 

This motion is a part of a latest development of Republicans taking motion in opposition to firms for opposition to Florida’s “Parental Rights in Schooling” Invoice. Final week Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida legislators floated the concept of revoking the 1967 Reedy Creek Enchancment Act, which permits Disney to behave as its personal authorities.

Disney didn’t instantly reply for remark.