re: #25 Love-Child of Cassandra and Sisyphus

Ok, but the advert in question did not say it was “Popeye”, but just used an image derivative of the earliest, now no longer copyright protected, cartoon.

Right?

Character designs can be trademarked.

That’s a loophole that Disney is exploiting in regards to Steamboat Willie-era Mickey Mouse, when, about 15 or so years ago when facing with the inevitable expiration of the Steamboat Willie copyright, Disney included the most-well-known part of the cartoon (Mickey with the captain’s hat on at the ship’s wheel) as part of one of their corporate logos so that version of Mickey Mouse will stay under trademark (and under their control).