Paraguay Loves Mickey, the Cartoon Mouse. Disney Doesn't

Paraguayan Mickey vs Disney Trademark Dispute

• Commenters note the case is about trademark, not copyright.
• The Paraguayan food company “Mickey” has used and renewed its mouse logo locally since the 1930s–50s and apparently kept its registrations current.
• Disney, by contrast, seems not to have consistently registered or defended its mark in Paraguay; this is cited as a key reason it lost.
• Some argue there’s little consumer confusion: locals primarily associate the grocery brand with staple foods, though the costumed mascot does evoke Disneyland for some.

Copyright vs Trademark and the Many Mickeys

• Discussion highlights that only early versions of Mickey (e.g., Steamboat Willie) are entering the public domain, and only in some jurisdictions.
• Later character designs remain copyrighted, and the name/logo are still trademarked where registered.
• Example: a T‑shirt can safely use public‑domain “Steamboat Willie” imagery but not modern Mickey.
• Disney’s increased use of “pie‑eyed” retro Mickey is seen as reinforcing trademark rights over that design.

Nature of Trademark Law (Local, Category-Based)

• Multiple comments stress that trademark is territorial; a U.S. mark has no automatic force in Paraguay.
• Trademarks are also category‑specific (e.g., groceries vs. animation). Disney isn’t an established grocery brand in Paraguay, weakening its claim there.
• Trademark is framed as a consumer‑protection and coordination mechanism, closer to traffic rules than moral rights.

Analogous Trademark Conflicts Worldwide

• Cited parallels:
  • Burger King vs. Hungry Jack’s in Australia.
  • Taco Bell vs. Taco Bill.
  • Apple vs. Apple Corps and a Swiss farmers’ group over apple imagery.
  • McDonald’s attempts to protect “Mc” as a prefix.
• These illustrate how prior local users can block or constrain global brands.

Language, English Signage, and Cultural Drift

• A tangent explores why Paraguayan shops use English phrases on signs; “casual English” is described as a youth “coolness” marker, not real fluency.
• Similar patterns are reported in Finland, France, the Netherlands, Japan, etc.
• Extended debate over English as global lingua franca, prospects of it becoming a first language in some countries, and whether language shapes thought (Sapir‑Whorf vs. universal grammar; polyglot experiences).

Meta: NYT Practices and Perceived Double Standards

• Some criticize the New York Times for protecting the anonymity of the Paraguayan mascot performer while previously insisting on naming certain bloggers, seeing inconsistent standards.

Miscellaneous

• Various jokes and side notes (e.g., Long Now 5‑digit years, local slang where “Paraguayan” means “fake,” cartoon and wordplay gags).