🐭 Mickey Mouse (partially) enters public domain

It’s Sunday, December 31 — people are talking about the 2021 Tesla robot arm accident, “Steamboat Willie” Mickey Mouse in the public domain, and more.

As always, we’ve summarized and organized the different shades of perspective, so you can see the big picture quickly. Here at Shades we believe that seeing multiple points of view is the best way to stay informed.

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- Jeff (co-founder of Shades)

🤖 The 2021 Tesla robot arm accident

A Tesla factory robot arm reportedly went rogue, sparking panic. Elon debunked the idea that it signals larger risk, while others say we should talk safety anyway.

🤖 The Daily Mail recently reported that back in 2021, a robotic Tesla factory arm “attacked” an engineer — and questioned whether companies are prepared to ensure worker safety in the age of autonomous machines.

🤖 The Daily Mail’s TikTok video went viral, and people in the comments showed strong concern about AI-powered robots killing us all.

🤖 But Elon Musk clarified: What is everyone talking about? The robotic arm was a simply industrial arm used across factories everywhere — no advanced AI involved. Shame on the media for propagating this narrative.

🤖 And Jalopnik agrees: The Daily Mail had very shoddy and misleading reporting. Elon is right this time.

🐭 Mickey Mouse (partially) enters public domain

The first depiction of Mickey will enter the public domain in 2024, meaning it will no longer be protected by intellectual property laws like copyright and trademark.

🐭 The original 1928 Mickey Mouse from the “Steamboat Willie” cartoon (and not other versions of Mickey) enters the public domain in 2024. The Guardian says it's not a big deal for Disney.

🐭 But the LA Times thinks this is a big moment: It's a win for creativity and culture, sparking new artistic freedom.

🐭 But RIFF Magazine is pessimistic: Mickey's public domain debut could inspire people to “mangle” the pop culture icon.

🐭 Either way, Cracked shared a list of the best unapproved Mickey media, in honor of the mouse entering public domain.

Quick hits

🎮 Dec. 29 was CEO Bobby Kotick's last day at Activision Blizzard after over 32 years with the company. (Windows Central)

🇺🇸 The Pentagon said that US helicopters sank 3 Houthi rebel boats in the Red Sea. (NYT)

🇷🇺 Russia said it targeted Ukrainian military sites in both Kyiv and Kharkiv in a new wave of drone and missile attacks. (Al Jazeera)

🇮🇱 Hospital officials said that Israeli strikes in central Gaza killed at least 35 people on Sunday. (USA Today)