Public Domain
Anti-Cats
1950 · Cine-Graphic · Dir. Mannie Davis
Three mice seek refuge during a winter storm in a house with a very hungry cat, who chases them- until Mighty Mouse steps in. Mighty Mouse, living in a star, watches the universe through a telescope. He observes a home full of mice being terrorized by a cat, so he travels to earth and infiltrates the house in disguise in a trench coat and hat. In an effort to make life miserable for the mean cat, Mighty Mouse drinks the cat's milk, sleeps in his bed, and eventually gets rid of the cat so the three harassed mice can live in peace.
Confidence
95
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
Anti-Cats is a 1950 American short industrial film produced by Cine-Graphic and distributed by the Anti-Cat Company. Under the copyright laws in effect at the time (the 1909 Act), works published between 1928 and 1963 required a copyright renewal with the U.S. Copyright Office during the 28th year of their first term to maintain protection. Failure to renew resulted in the work entering the public domain.
A search of the Stanford Copyright Renewal Database and the Library of Congress Catalog of Copyright Entries (CCE) reveals no renewal registration for this title or for the specific production entity under this film name. Because the initial 28-year term for a 1950 release expired in 1978, and no renewal was filed in the 1977-1978 window, the film is considered to have entered the public domain. Its inclusion in several public domain archival collections and stock footage libraries further supports this status.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Stanford Copyright Renewal Database
- U Penn Catalog of Copyright Entries (CCE)
- Hurst, Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain
- Internet Archive - Stock Footage Collections
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.