'Cause I Eats My Spinach...

**iamtheblues** · 31 December 2008, 11:03 PM

As from today, Popeye the Sailor enters the public domain. His creator, Elzie Crisler Segar, born December 8, 1894, died October 13, 1938 (aged 43). According to European Union legislation the 70 year ruling on copyright now comes into force. In honour of the man who is rarely mentioned as the creator of Popeye in the Thimble Theatre Cartoon Strip, I attach a hand tracing of an endearing image of one of the greatest cartoon characters.
I will sit back and wait for someone to tell me that I'm still not entitled to post this image.
Happy New year,
Bob.

**gwpriester** · 31 December 2008, 11:09 PM

He am what he am, he Popeye the Sailor Man.

**Fred C** · 31 December 2008, 11:40 PM

Nice job, Bob! Happy New Year to you, too!

**handrawn** · 31 December 2008, 11:50 PM

be careful with posting the original Bob - that may not be out of copyright - it does not follow that an instance of the character's use is out of copyright just because the character is...

you should be ok with your excellent interpretation though - just so long as you don't go infringing King Features, or whoever it is actually owns the original,'s rights

**iamtheblues** · 31 December 2008, 11:57 PM

Thanks for that, Steve. I've taken the original down just in case.
Saludos,
Bob.

**Soquili** · 01 January 2009, 12:06 AM

Happy New Year Bob.

I like Popeye.

**-=Drifter=-** · 01 January 2009, 01:29 AM

A friend of mine LOVES Popeye and has a tremendous collection of anything Popeye-ish.

I emailed him your post and here is what he replied:

Yes this is true, but only in Europe apparently. In the states, the public domain thing doesn't kick in for 95 years which would be 2024. It's hard to believe King Features Syndicate hasn't found a way of protecting it's product - they've been extremely litigious in the past. Whoever (whomever?) posted this, mentioned E.C.Segar, but posted a Popeye comic book cover drawn by Bud Sagendorf. Bud took over for Segar after he died of leukemia in 1938.

Sagendorf s**ked. The character wasn't his to change.

**georgetroy** · 01 January 2009, 01:44 AM

Fine drawing showing a cartoon character of the old school, before Manga.

**handrawn** · 01 January 2009, 02:21 AM

correct about the US angle - the 70 year is EU law

use of the Popeye character in new work in the EU is fine - with the exception of using it in connection with spinach as this is a trade mark issue apparently. That may well have to be tested in court if it occurs since this is the first time this kind of character copyright has lapsed [my sources tell me]

plenty of non-manga stuff around still, but a lot of it [like manga] not necessarily in English

**FLySOLO** · 01 January 2009, 02:59 PM

i love the old popeye clips from the 30s and 40s and watch them often with the kids.

collected lots in bad quality from the net - is there a source with high quality now that it's public domain?

bb,

FLy