It's not that he is already in the public domain its just that mattel is more linear about content, or they don't care about older thomas content because of aeg
user-xv7lk2fu5s fair enough since they haven't really touched it for the past 4 years but even from their early purchase they never really cared about it probably because it's not exactly directed at thomas itself since most by that point were switching to trainz technically it's not copyright since it's just a model of the character plus like you said Mattel seems more tolerant with it
Honestly public domain is really only relevant for merchandise and marketability. As far as the media is concerned, it's largely irrelevant because, despite not being marketable, Thomas' fandom has still attracted MANY talented artists, actors, and animators. Sudrian Afro alone has composed all the old themes AND tons of original music.
Just imagine it. - Writers: The Unlucky Tug, Victor Tanzig & Enterprisingengine93 - Animators: Wildnorwester & Mainland Studios - Music Composers: Luke Pickman & UpsideNow THIS COULD BE MORE AMAZING THEN THE MARC FORSTER MOVIE!!!!!
i think that if thomas becomes public domain, not much will really change. although i bet that content creation will become easier we wont have to worry about content being taken down by mattel
I mean, Thomas may as well already be in the public domain considering Mattel lets pretty much all fan content stay on UA-cam. And there already are dark and edgy projects like Shed 17 or Sodor Fallout
I know this will get me kicked in the balls just for saying that. But I'd rather have Shed 17 over Sodor Fallout because at least with Shed 17, while yes it is edgy, dark and gory. It was only a dark and edgy 30+ minute video and it did go somewhere. Sodor Fallout just exists for the sake of being dark, sad and disturbing and that's all it is.
I was just thinking about the day Thomas would enter public domain as well! Hopefully, by the time that happens, the horror aspect of public domain will have diminished. But who knows. A faithful adaptation to the books is entirely possible as you suggested.
Hopefully so! I think the best thing is that when the Christopher books eventually enter public domain, we may be able to actually get a decent distribution of his books 😂
@@mechanicalshed4556 Can see that being a blessing. In fact, the day Wilbert's books become public domain, perhaps some of us will go back into the original stories and upgrade them with the stories we've come to know in later books, like the Skarloey Railway or the stories of the Sodor & Mainland Railway, the Coffeepots of Ffarquhar, the Wellsworth & Suddery Wardalls, etc. Personally, if I were to go back to the books, assuming I'm still alive by 2067, I'd go back and show more stories focused on the Diesels.
A lot of franchises are entering public domain and lots of horror things are being made, hopefully, by the time it comes this idea is already oversaturated and tired also, horror content of the rws/thomas already exists, so it wouldnt exactly be a shock, and the franchise isn't exactly as iconic as mickey or winnie the pooh (at least for the general population, for me and many thomas fans it is), so even if someone wanted to do a lazy horror stuff, it wouldn't exactly be a good way to get easy money compared to other characters what I think it should be done is to create new stories respecting awdry's vision, as if trying to follow a natural course of sorts
@@jvbndofvbnebe Aye. Can't disagree there. At least when it comes to horror content in Thomas, most of them are tame and they make sense, like the many adaptations of Duncan Gets Spooked, or the more original stories like Ghosts of Sodor I & II and Narrow Gauge's Horror on the Rails. Yeah, that sounds like the best course of action. Like, maybe continue where Wilbert left off and fill in the stories before Christopher's, or even bring the stories Christopher intended to publish to life when his books enter public domain.
I can already see it now. When Thomas becomes public domain, we won't even go a whole day before a studio announces a horror movie named TRAIN or something.
Honest to god, I know it's wrong to stifle creativity, and I know as a Thomas fan I should take all the jokes and laugh them off, but I'm so done with Thomas being trivialized as just some creepy old show and I am never gonna be prepared for the onslaught of edge lore Thomas stuff that's bound to happen.
The thing is we aren’t exactly sure how well the fandom or general public perception will retain in 30-40 years. That’s enough time for Mattel to do like 5 Thomas reboots. Another issue is, that will probably be amidst what I am coining right now, “The Big IP Craze” where so many iconic IPs and stories are entering the public domain that it creates a very chaotic period for entertainment. Characters from DC comics, Disney, looney tunes, ect will quickly become free. This could mean a new explosion of nostalgia for those series that survive the test of time but it could also mean people get tired of older IPs entirely due to oversaturation of franchises leaning on names (think superhero fatigue mostly caused by marvel oversaturating the market).
Actually, the UK copyright laws aren't the same as the US copyright laws. In the US, a work becomes public domain after 95 years regardless of the work's origin. This means that in 2041 will be when the first book goes public domain for the US. 2042 on the other hand is when the blue boi himself goes into the public domain.
Yeah... I can see it already, The Sad Story of Henry, coming 2041. Join Edward and Gordon as they discover their old friend has changed from his time inside the tunnel. ( I don't think I'm very far off )
@@jordanwardle11 That's UK copyright law, the US copyright law is completely different meaning that while it would take longer for outside the US to get the rws in the public domain the US would already have it. Please read the original comment closely.
@@timelordproductions876 nope, the us actually followed the Europeans on this one. Plus, you will find that it is the same all over the world due to copyright treaties
Thomas becoming public domain would probably be for the better given how amazing this community is. Although it would probably still lead to the crappy cash grabs from outside companies.
With any luck, the kind of cash grabs we currently have in cinema will be a dead trend by then. Give it about a decade and they'll finally start getting creative with the cash grabs..
If Thomas the tank engine gets horror movies or games in the public domain . I will snap myself out of existence . Thomas and friends was nostalgic for me. I dont want horror movies and horror games based on Thomas the tank engine
I mean, there's already horror stories of Thomas, like "Shed 13" or "Timothy the Ghost Engine" (Timothy being a evil silver clone of Thomas with a "0" on his sidetanks).
Same thing that’s been going on ever since the first Thomas fan laid eyes upon season 6 and decided it better if he tried his hand at the regulator… …and then proceeded to drive it with utmost excellence, while Mattels current ‘engine’ continues to suffer steaming issues and frequent derailments and Mattel decided to try and paint it up as a fully functional loco (which itself is loco).
While the original series and AEG won’t be public domain until after our lifetime, the original railway series illustration’s being ours is something to look forward to later down the track.
Blows my mind that Payne's already are. His Thomas illustrations probably still have some protection because of the book being under Awdry's copyright protection, but Payne's artworks in general should be in the public domain.
It should also be mentioned that trademarks don't expire, and "Thomas The Tank Engine" is something Mattel has likely trademarked. So you couldn't call any of your products under that name. You can still call him Thomas, but not "Thomas The Tank Engine." It's the same with Mickey Mouse. It should also go without saying, but when the TRE and TTTE go Public Domain, it'll most likely only apply to the original illustrations by William Middleton and Reginald Payne at first. This means you'd only be able to use the versions of the characters as seen in those books only.
Nah the illustrations will all go public domain at the dates determined by the death of the artists, but yeah the trademarks are something everyone should be wary of! Should have mentioned that. With Thomas', it could be a grey area since it's the title of his book. I can see the lawyers having a hard time with Thomas tbh 😂
Good points! I've always wanted to see a live-action version of Thomas that's nicely produced, like a well-made period drama set in the 1950s with Thomas and the whole railway on Sodor, so it has the fantastical element of talking trains but aside from that everything else is quite realistic compared to now, with tweaks to accommodate for this alternative universe where mechanical machines are alive. It'd be awesome seeing the characters as live action engines and vehicles, and with a supporting cast of distinguished actors as the staff. Ciarán Hinds would make an amazing Sir Topham Hatt.
Here’s a simple answer from me: we would not only celebrate, but make so many amazing content about Thomas like it’s back to the 80s - 90s. What about that? but I still like this theory.
YES!! Get the Fandom together and create Thomas in our own way. Show Mattel how to create a Good Thomas Series and rub our success in their ugly faces! With so much raw talent waiting to be let out, Thomas becoming a public domain, and the entire Fandom coming together over this could be the greatest thing to ever happen to the Thomas name since the Railway Series books!
lmao mattel does not give a shit about thomas, youd all look stupid as hell trying to make fun of mattel. after all, thomas getting off their hands only gives them more time to focus on their more gimmicky and popular brands
Richard III got a WWII-styled adaptation in 1995 made possible by the public domain. In the hands of a creative genius, we could see a Thomas adaptation where the stories are set closer to the Golden Age of Steam than in canon and before WWII even or a retelling of the original book but with the adage of historical hindsight; giving the books more of that historical texture.
2067 is a long way off, yes. By that point, many of the fans that have grown up with the show in the 90's and the 2000's, (Myself included) would be in our senior years! (e.g. 2005 borns would be 62 by the time the RWS enters the public domain). As a writer of a book about sentient talking vehicles, which was written with the style of the RWS in mind, yet taking my own spin on things (being set on a farm in Australia instead of the Island of Sodor) I've always had it in my head that my series happens to be one in the same canon as the RWS, just on the other side of the world. Unfortunately, in this instance I'd have to wait until 2067 for me to officially state that "Sodor exists in [x] project" If I ever get to see that glorious day when it does enter the public domain, you can count me in as one of the writing crew, to keep Awdry's legacy alive!
That is a good video! Seeing fans take over Thomas when it hits public domain and doing their own production, I can see that happening and that is a long way away to 2067. Who know maybe when All Engines Go ends maybe we could see a revived series and if there was a revived series, I would want to keep in continuity with the classic tv series.
I’ll see you guys in the 2060’s when I finally make my own train-with-face series then have the characters travel to the Island of Sodor for an arc of episodes then leave afterwards.
I wrote this half-joking by the way, as original as it is for someone to say this, I have something that I work on. I call it "The Amwell County Railroad" (I abbreviate it to ACRR) it's American trains with faces intended to be more for teens and adults, and having references to things real-life Railroad history. Ideas circling around my head are things referencing like the debate over BEDT 15 being rebuilt, the Russian Decapods, K-28's that went to Alaska, the rare American Diesel Hydraulic, and definitely more but generally those are all the ideas I got and want to share off the top of my head. Please don't expect anything major to come from this, it's just a UA-cam comment.
I'll be 64 (I was born in 2003). I have no clue what my life will be like that long from now, but I hope I'll have a prosperous career in something. Though considering my lifestyle I might not even live that long XD.
What I'm curious of is, in addition to what could, or will, happen when Thomas enters the Public Domain, what will happen when other train-themed stories (like The Little Engine That Could) enter the Public Domain?
Well we’ll all be old or at least middle aged by 2067 (being born in 2004 I’ll be 63 if I’m still around by then) so who knows what the younger Thomas fan generation by then will do with it (if there even is much of it then), imagine me seeing how it goes with my grandchildren and wondering wtf is going on if something dumb is happening though in May 2045 for the 100th anniversary of the whole franchise I’ll only be 40 before turning 41 in June Hopefully All Engines Go will end and they’ll go back to the original continuity starting from where they left off
I quite like the research put into this video, Mechanical Shed. Though if I were to make a Thomas franchise once Thomas enters the public domain in the 2060's. No matter how old a lot of us will become or have died by the time Thomas does enter the public domain in 2067 (UK copyright laws or otherwise), I would gladly make it purely out of respect and love and something for all children and adults to enjoy (like Bluey, Adventure Time, Animaniacs, SpongeBob, Bob the Builder, etc.) and not for the sake of acting just as egotistical as the rest of the fandom or Mattel respectively. But I would rather let someone else do that for me as long as I enjoy it, and not see it become worse than the reboot that must not be named or those abominable 75th anniversary UA-cam-exclusive miniseries shows that nobody remembers or even likes.
Honestly, so many people are gonna be coming out of retirement and I'm all for that 😂 Just be careful not to use anything outside of Wilbert's books coz it's only those that will be free for a while!
If that does somehow end up happening, I would make a sort of "semi reboot" of The Railway Series books to add some characters like some of TULT's take on some TV characters if they were in the RWS. And make a book which is a canon version of Thomas and The Evil Diesel but make it a redemption arc for Diesel called "North Western Redemption" even make the missing books that were never made and rewrite "Centenary" to feel like a conclusion to the original saga of books with a added total of 50 books and then make a series that serves as a continuation after 2011 called "The Railway Series: Adventures Of Really Useful Engines" and it would continue on from 2011 to now and beyond.
This is a quite terrifying thing to think about… Thomas entering public domain could lead to some unfortunate things, such as bad horror movies and video games…
I am not a lawyer, but I understood that copyright expiry was the first day of the year after 70 years after death - for a death in 1997, this would be 1 January 2068.
Funny thing really, I've said, in my tweet very long while ago, which I was unable to find it now, but I said. If Thomas entered Public Domain, the Fandom or perhaps Project Tiger Moth, or even better Whitehousefilms would resume T&F with Series 25. It would be very impressive to imagine that the show would aired from television S1-24 to UA-cam S25-present.
You should also include TATMR and Shining Time Station on that list. I'd love to make a TTTE/ Shining Time Station reboot/ continuation, but by the time STS comes to the public domain, yeah I'll be long gone.
The last Sherlock Holmes stories became public domain last year. Seeing what happens to Holmes in the next couple years might be a much better indicator of pop culture’s reaction to public domain than the things with ties to the mouse house.
I wouldn’t mind seeing a redux of the HIT era season that instead stuck to and followed the season 5/6 quality, still maintain some of the new characters such as Emily, Salty, etc, and embellish on the ones that became more mainstream in the 8-12 era, such as Rosie or whatever. So many engines were brought in for exactly one episode and were never heard from again. As for the cgi, I’d love certain things to be kept, like Hero of the Rails, but all in model form….
Thanks for making this! I was really wondering when Thomas becomes public domain... So basically the fandom has to come together to create a non-profit organization to continue production of Thomas after it enters the public domain And I also really hope more of Mattel's 3D models and scenes from Thomas get leaked because greedy corporations should not be respected.
So there is going to be a long wait before Thomas becomes public domain. I'll be an old man then in my 60s! Overall, I agree with you, while I defiantly fear what people who hardly know anything about Thomas, by this I mean those not in the fandom or those who say Thomas creeped them out, or it's fascist blah blah blah, will do the characters, we can't deny that there is plenty of headache with in the fandom itself that will cause more clashes than what we already have now once the copyright expires in 2067. Overall, the fandoms greatest enemy is ourselves and I don't think there is much we can do than what we already do and that is putting our talents to use from the inspirational, magical island that is Sodor. And here is something else, what about TUGS going public domain? That's something else to think about!
Honestly, to turn many things into cringey horror is just a predictable reaction to the way the world is heading towards. I get it. However, if such stories are created with tact and not necessarily a slash and hack style blood gore-e.g. a mystery psychological thriller-that would be interesting to watch. Beyond that, other works exist in the public domain that are waiting to be used in amazing ways (the Oz books, other legendary books and stories, music, films, etc). It’s a free for all. But if material is synthesized in the best way possible, it’ll churn out into something exciting. But I do agree with ya. Will certainly be in my 70s if I make it by then, watching em youngsters do something wacky 😂
On one hand, Thomas would be free of Mattel's clutches, as Mattel had been horribly mistreating him since late 2017. On the other hand, Thomas would be subject to a horror film the way Winnie the Pooh and Steamboat Mickey have been, and who knows what else?
I can see it now Voice Actors - TheRealTrampy Music - Milo The Otter Or Upside Now Models And Sets Made By - FlyingPringle Writers - The Unlucky Tug And The Real Trampy Now That Would Be Amazing
I'm surprised there was not a mention of the Cursed Thomas or Shed 17 creepypastas that's been floating around online. They are examples of how Thomas The Tank Engine could potentially meet the same fate Winnie the Pooh and Mikey Mouse upon entering the public domain. Come 2067, there would be nothing illegal about adapting such nightmare fuels into commercially distributed movies.
As much as we tend to focus on bad things, I like to focus on the good. I think that with Thomas in Public Domain, British companies and loyal fans may put him to good use and bring back the Thomas we truly love.
On that note what you said about the "adult language thomas" the Trainz and TRS people often take the thomas idea to the PG13 levels and above, often just to avoid the "kids only content" which is YT's own flawed algorithum, you don't seem to understand FTC rules like we do.
Oh no I totally get that, it's a very awkward situation for the UA-camrs. UA-cam Kids has been a pain in the neck for loads of us, especially in the Thomas fandom. For an official franchise/series and such you would be under a different set of circumstances than to making fan content on the internet. 😊
Gonna take my best guess here and say that people can use the public domain version of Thomas (yes, there’s a difference) as they see fit. It DOESN'T mean they can reupload full, unedited episodes of the show.
Bingo! It'll only apply to anything that Awdry himself has penned, until the TV series itself enters public domain. But considering how Thomas has changed hands during his TV tenure, I daren't think about what that means for the copyright laws 😵💫
I've thought about this question, but I already know the answer. Simply put, if Thomas were in the Public Domain, the franchise would easily be revitalized if put into the right hands, mine included, without being held back by the shackles of the ignorant cooperates of Mattel. The reboot could easily be cancelled by then, though I have a feeling that it won't exist beyond a few months or years from now.
If there's a movie, I got a whole voice cast. ( just note that this list does not obey the word "budget", nor does it notice that some people on this list may be dead ) Thomas - Tom Holland Edward / Duck - Stephen Manghan Henry - Russel Saradier Gordon / The Fat Controller - Peter Weller James - Chevy Chase Percy / Donald & Douglas / Bill & Ben / Jack / Peter Sam - Robbie Williams Toby - Rutger Hauer Oliver / Alfie / Stepney - Lee Evans Diesel 10 - Tom Baker Emily / Daisy / Annie & Clarabel - Joanna Lumley Toad / Rheneas - Jim Broadbent Molly - Alex Kingston Rosie - Amber Salisbury Bertie - Andrew Brent Diesel / Salty - Kellen Goff George - Clint Walker Bulgy - Matthew Lillard Spencer - Sir Patrick Stewart Neville - David Near Cranky - Bruce Campbell Arry & Bert - James Cagney Carly - Amanda Tapping Billy / The Thin Controller - Richard Dean Anderson Charlie - Michael Shanks Murdoch - Michael Rosen BoCo - Timothy Busfield Mavis - Tara Strong Arthur / Dodge - Richard Hammond Duncan - David Tennant Bear - Christopher Judge The Works Diesel - Steve Buscemi Flying Scotsman - Mark Edward Fischback City of Truro - Josh Hutcherson Dennis - John Hannah Norman / Splatter - Kevin J. O'Connor Merlin - Dean Jones Derek - Keith Gordon Den - James Coburn Dart - John Stockwell Oliver ( excavator ) - Joseph Pelling ( damn, that took a while )
In my opinion, even though I am so against the idea of having Thomas in a horror genre once the series enters the Public Domain, but I do believe there are good things that could happen if there are studios doing their own spin on the series. After all, I've seen really cool AUs that fans did to make me feel this way.
@@mechanicalshed4556 he was working on a rusty around the same time but i think that project fell flat. hes back on his ho kick again but ion know wat hes revealed so dats all ima say 🙃
How I wish All Engines Go was a product of the public domain, however it is created by the current legal owners of the Thomas and Friends franchise. New show, same owners, like with Nickelodeon and the TMNT.
@@mechanicalshed4556 Thomas ended with Season 11, or more people would prefer 5. its up to you to decide whats cannon and whats not. in my eyes Mattel's era is just a big bad fanfilm.
If Thomas became public domain, I'd create a CGI Classic-Series Styled show and do the following: 1. Add more realism to the world, like in TUGS. 2. Add more British Characters. 3. Show the Peel Godred Branch with its electric engines. 4. Adapted more of the RWS stories, history, and lore. 5. Reposition locations from the model series to where they'd be located in the RWS, with a few exceptions. Just to name a few.
Good to know that I won't have to worry that much about reaching 60 since I'll be 35 by the time John Kenney's version of Thomas and the others reach public domain.
i get ur points i really do but u do have to think how many shows if one would be picked up by different companies as u said thomas isnt as ionic as there most likely would be a over saturation of the market
Very true, it'd probably be more of an issue of how many people/fans would be trying to pitch a new Thomas property rather than how many are actually taking off.
Nope, quite some time to go yet! There is a 2039 rule for unpublished literature and works where anything of that nature becomes public domain in said year. But none of that applies to the Thomas books so it changes nothing for us.
@@mechanicalshed4556 well since you like Thomas and friends along with the railways series. What other cartoon you watch when your a kid? I was wondering about a Burbank become animated video… you know rocketwithapocket is working on his own project called Burbank become animated?
Personally, I've always wanted to make a love letter to Awdry, by making a railway series origin story, but from the perspective of Awdry as a child, and the Island of Sodor being real (just without the talking trains).
It's possible that you could do that anyway. You'd have to get permissions from the Awdry family, Mattel, e.t.c. in order to include certain bits but if it's the real life story of Wilbert Awdry the public domain shouldn't apply 🤔
@@mechanicalshed4556 Not real life, just portrayed that way, but obviously not advertised as such. Unfortunately, the Island of Sodor isn't actually real.
@@mattevans4377 Oooh I see what you meant now, I read it as one of those biography films. Would be awesome seeing the Railway Series unfold from the Thin Clergyman's perspective!
according to the UK Copyright Law a Broadcast goes into the public domain from 50 years from which the year the show aired meaning that The original Thomas And Friends show or at least season 1 idk will go into the public domain on 9 October 2034.
I think that only applies to the footage of the broadcast rather than the franchise as a whole. So in theory, it could be perfectly legal (in roughly a decade's time like you said) to exhibit Series 1 footage without paying royalties, but it wouldn't mean Thomas and Friends itself goes public domain.
@@Progobro25 I think so 🤞 I think to get any conclusive answers or take this investigation into Thomas' public domain rights further it's going to require the involvement of a legal professional 😆
Honestly, i think tje most well see for the first deacde or so after it enters the public domain is remakes of already popular fan projects like victor tanzigs stories of sodor and wildnorwesters sodor the early/modern years series. And we will most definitely see horror adaptations, considering alot already exist. I think the 3 that will likely get adaptations first will be Timothy, shed 17 and sodor fallout.as again, their already popular. A big studio or 2 will definitely try and make their own cash grab movie, but remakes of fan adaptations will certainly be the dominant pieces of content we get when this happens
We all know what would happen if Thomas entered the public domain. Hollywood would make a horror movie out of anything nowadays. See Winnie the Pooh, see Snow White, see Bambi, see The Powerpuff Girls, see The Grinch, and now see Mickey Mouse.
Also there is trademark that the fans would have to work around. I'm not sure about the UK. But here in the US you can ONLY use the steam boat willy version of mickey and you can't even name him mickey. If you do you will be hit hard by Disney cause they own the current look and name of mickey. So if we were to use Thomas it would HAVE to be made Useing ONLY the look of the railway series and that's it.
With Mickey it's more that all the other Mickeys are not public domain yet (film and broadcasts e.t.c. have a different copyright law to literature). The trademarks thing I think applies in the UK too so whatever we did with our Thomas trains, we would probably not be allowed to call it "Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends" or "Thomas and Friends". "The Railway Series" or using Thomas' name in any other way should be fine. He could look however we like so long as it's not a 1-1 likeness of the TV version. :)
We need a law to prevent horror movies based on existing IPs entering the public domain. But what I think the fandom needs to do to save Thomas from Mattel and AEG is to do a kick starter to purchase the franchise considering we have the talent to make stuff like the early seasons when Mattel does not.
Tbh with how much fan content of thomas exist on UA-cam alone feels like thomas was public domain for a long time
Indeed! We can't make a profit earning franchise of it but we can still have fun with trains 😁
It's not that he is already in the public domain its just that mattel is more linear about content, or they don't care about older thomas content because of aeg
user-xv7lk2fu5s fair enough since they haven't really touched it for the past 4 years but even from their early purchase they never really cared about it probably because it's not exactly directed at thomas itself since most by that point were switching to trainz technically it's not copyright since it's just a model of the character plus like you said Mattel seems more tolerant with it
"Can't make a profit."
That hasn't stopped people from trying...which is certainly a story for another time.
@PlayDontPause oh definitely there were those that would and migth have tried
Honestly public domain is really only relevant for merchandise and marketability.
As far as the media is concerned, it's largely irrelevant because, despite not being marketable, Thomas' fandom has still attracted MANY talented artists, actors, and animators. Sudrian Afro alone has composed all the old themes AND tons of original music.
Just imagine it.
- Writers: The Unlucky Tug, Victor Tanzig & Enterprisingengine93
- Animators: Wildnorwester & Mainland Studios
- Music Composers: Luke Pickman & UpsideNow
THIS COULD BE MORE AMAZING THEN THE MARC FORSTER MOVIE!!!!!
Omg it’s the Thomas fandom Avengers!
No, those guys all suck ass, just like the rest of this pathetic fandom.
Could I help if it does come to be?
@@Rad0115 could I be a writer I have a perfect storyline
Tanzig wouldn't be a good kid's show writer...
i think that if thomas becomes public domain, not much will really change. although i bet that content creation will become easier we wont have to worry about content being taken down by mattel
So long as said content was taking strictly from Railway Series they would have no power to stop you 😁
Mattel may not even exist anymore when Thomas becomes public domain.
don't think so, they still have barbie to fall back to if thomas becomes public domain
everybody has different ideas@mechanicalshed4556
i'd expect much more parodies, and much more fan content based on the railway series
I mean, Thomas may as well already be in the public domain considering Mattel lets pretty much all fan content stay on UA-cam. And there already are dark and edgy projects like Shed 17 or Sodor Fallout
And five nights at Thomas and fight nights at smudgers
@@Opthomas_Primethose ain’t edgy buddy, those are made by little kids for little kids.
@@Opthomas_Prime and creepypasta like Thomas and the Children or 1981s early reel
The change will be that TV Shows can use the characters.
I know this will get me kicked in the balls just for saying that. But I'd rather have Shed 17 over Sodor Fallout because at least with Shed 17, while yes it is edgy, dark and gory. It was only a dark and edgy 30+ minute video and it did go somewhere. Sodor Fallout just exists for the sake of being dark, sad and disturbing and that's all it is.
I was just thinking about the day Thomas would enter public domain as well!
Hopefully, by the time that happens, the horror aspect of public domain will have diminished. But who knows. A faithful adaptation to the books is entirely possible as you suggested.
Hopefully so! I think the best thing is that when the Christopher books eventually enter public domain, we may be able to actually get a decent distribution of his books 😂
@@mechanicalshed4556 Can see that being a blessing.
In fact, the day Wilbert's books become public domain, perhaps some of us will go back into the original stories and upgrade them with the stories we've come to know in later books, like the Skarloey Railway or the stories of the Sodor & Mainland Railway, the Coffeepots of Ffarquhar, the Wellsworth & Suddery Wardalls, etc.
Personally, if I were to go back to the books, assuming I'm still alive by 2067, I'd go back and show more stories focused on the Diesels.
A lot of franchises are entering public domain and lots of horror things are being made, hopefully, by the time it comes this idea is already oversaturated and tired
also, horror content of the rws/thomas already exists, so it wouldnt exactly be a shock, and the franchise isn't exactly as iconic as mickey or winnie the pooh (at least for the general population, for me and many thomas fans it is), so even if someone wanted to do a lazy horror stuff, it wouldn't exactly be a good way to get easy money compared to other characters
what I think it should be done is to create new stories respecting awdry's vision, as if trying to follow a natural course of sorts
@@jvbndofvbnebe Aye. Can't disagree there. At least when it comes to horror content in Thomas, most of them are tame and they make sense, like the many adaptations of Duncan Gets Spooked, or the more original stories like Ghosts of Sodor I & II and Narrow Gauge's Horror on the Rails.
Yeah, that sounds like the best course of action. Like, maybe continue where Wilbert left off and fill in the stories before Christopher's, or even bring the stories Christopher intended to publish to life when his books enter public domain.
@@eslm-studios2996A blessing indeed. 😌
I can already see it now. When Thomas becomes public domain, we won't even go a whole day before a studio announces a horror movie named TRAIN or something.
Check the Amphibia episode "Mr. X", you don't know how close you are! 😂
What about the name "Choo Choo" lol
I Will Be 62 That Year!
Honest to god, I know it's wrong to stifle creativity, and I know as a Thomas fan I should take all the jokes and laugh them off, but I'm so done with Thomas being trivialized as just some creepy old show and I am never gonna be prepared for the onslaught of edge lore Thomas stuff that's bound to happen.
SODOR FALLOUT
*Closes book* yeah, like that's ever gonna happen.
Some *bursts through Tidmouth Shed doors* BODY ONCE TOLD ME-
@@mechanicalshed4556THE RAILS ARE GONNA ROLL ME!
@@dinodude4039 I AIN'T THE SHARPEST TRAIN IN THE SHED!
@@DalekPratt1963 She was lookin kinda dumb with her funnel and her dome
@@enterprisinga1471 In that shape of a harbor crane.. on her forehead...
The thing is we aren’t exactly sure how well the fandom or general public perception will retain in 30-40 years. That’s enough time for Mattel to do like 5 Thomas reboots.
Another issue is, that will probably be amidst what I am coining right now, “The Big IP Craze” where so many iconic IPs and stories are entering the public domain that it creates a very chaotic period for entertainment. Characters from DC comics, Disney, looney tunes, ect will quickly become free. This could mean a new explosion of nostalgia for those series that survive the test of time but it could also mean people get tired of older IPs entirely due to oversaturation of franchises leaning on names (think superhero fatigue mostly caused by marvel oversaturating the market).
If Thomas goes into Public Domain, We’re finally free from Mattel.
Actually, the UK copyright laws aren't the same as the US copyright laws. In the US, a work becomes public domain after 95 years regardless of the work's origin. This means that in 2041 will be when the first book goes public domain for the US. 2042 on the other hand is when the blue boi himself goes into the public domain.
Yeah... I can see it already, The Sad Story of Henry, coming 2041. Join Edward and Gordon as they discover their old friend has changed from his time inside the tunnel.
( I don't think I'm very far off )
That applies to a corporation. For an individual, it's life plus 70 years
@@jordanwardle11 That's UK copyright law, the US copyright law is completely different meaning that while it would take longer for outside the US to get the rws in the public domain the US would already have it. Please read the original comment closely.
@@jordanwardle11 idk what copyright laws you talking about but in the US it's 95 years for anything.
@@timelordproductions876 nope, the us actually followed the Europeans on this one. Plus, you will find that it is the same all over the world due to copyright treaties
Thomas becoming public domain would probably be for the better given how amazing this community is.
Although it would probably still lead to the crappy cash grabs from outside companies.
With any luck, the kind of cash grabs we currently have in cinema will be a dead trend by then. Give it about a decade and they'll finally start getting creative with the cash grabs..
If Thomas the tank engine gets horror movies or games in the public domain . I will snap myself out of existence . Thomas and friends was nostalgic for me. I dont want horror movies and horror games based on Thomas the tank engine
I mean, there's already horror stories of Thomas, like "Shed 13" or "Timothy the Ghost Engine" (Timothy being a evil silver clone of Thomas with a "0" on his sidetanks).
@@ElNeroDiablodude it’s shed 17 not shed 13
@@TidHarbourWorks My bad, but still - it's there.
Wait for me
You can't exactly stop it though?
It's in the public domain, nothing you can do to stop the creator.
Well we've gotten those season 5 rushes from ThomasTankMerch
I'd love to see what the fandom could do with Thomas as public domain
I'm actually worried about that.
I agree on this one. The fandom is showing sights of toxicity from cancel culture,@@dylanlyles9453
@dylanlyles9453 I'm a little worried too but I also have hope it'll go great
@@amitysluzara2022 Yeah, I hope so too.
@@amitysluzara2022I’m optimistically scared of what’s to come for Thomas
Same thing that’s been going on ever since the first Thomas fan laid eyes upon season 6 and decided it better if he tried his hand at the regulator…
…and then proceeded to drive it with utmost excellence, while Mattels current ‘engine’ continues to suffer steaming issues and frequent derailments and Mattel decided to try and paint it up as a fully functional loco (which itself is loco).
Yeah. Mattel's money making machine that is it's horrid marketing strategy is the metaphorical epitome of a galloping sausage.
While the original series and AEG won’t be public domain until after our lifetime, the original railway series illustration’s being ours is something to look forward to later down the track.
Blows my mind that Payne's already are. His Thomas illustrations probably still have some protection because of the book being under Awdry's copyright protection, but Payne's artworks in general should be in the public domain.
You know, by 2067, I'll be nearing retirement! Maybe I'll know a lot more about Thomas then.
Who knows what aging will be like in 2067 with advanced technology
Considering 50 was once the original 80, 60 in the 2060's could be like the new 40
It should also be mentioned that trademarks don't expire, and "Thomas The Tank Engine" is something Mattel has likely trademarked. So you couldn't call any of your products under that name. You can still call him Thomas, but not "Thomas The Tank Engine." It's the same with Mickey Mouse.
It should also go without saying, but when the TRE and TTTE go Public Domain, it'll most likely only apply to the original illustrations by William Middleton and Reginald Payne at first. This means you'd only be able to use the versions of the characters as seen in those books only.
Nah the illustrations will all go public domain at the dates determined by the death of the artists, but yeah the trademarks are something everyone should be wary of! Should have mentioned that. With Thomas', it could be a grey area since it's the title of his book. I can see the lawyers having a hard time with Thomas tbh 😂
You could use the Thomas the Tank Engine name, but you have to make it so that it wouldn't get confused for anything Mattel related.
Good points!
I've always wanted to see a live-action version of Thomas that's nicely produced, like a well-made period drama set in the 1950s with Thomas and the whole railway on Sodor, so it has the fantastical element of talking trains but aside from that everything else is quite realistic compared to now, with tweaks to accommodate for this alternative universe where mechanical machines are alive. It'd be awesome seeing the characters as live action engines and vehicles, and with a supporting cast of distinguished actors as the staff. Ciarán Hinds would make an amazing Sir Topham Hatt.
For real though, that sounds like the good stuff! A full on series where it's the live action people with CG engines e.t.c. would be so interesting.
Here’s a simple answer from me: we would not only celebrate, but make so many amazing content about Thomas like it’s back to the 80s - 90s. What about that? but I still like this theory.
If Thomas The Tank Engine enters the public domain I will write into books called “The tales of Sodor”
Either he gets the justice he deserves, or the same generic horror shit.
YES!! Get the Fandom together and create Thomas in our own way. Show Mattel how to create a Good Thomas Series and rub our success in their ugly faces! With so much raw talent waiting to be let out, Thomas becoming a public domain, and the entire Fandom coming together over this could be the greatest thing to ever happen to the Thomas name since the Railway Series books!
Almost like the TCC "Thomas Creator Collective" ,where the fandom work together to make something beautiful.
Make it out of love, not spite. Because when it’s out of spite it corrupts and ruins the final product.
@@mikeval1525 what i mean is the team work from tcc not the concept
@@mikeval1525Exactly! Otherwise, the fans are no better than the very company they despise.
lmao mattel does not give a shit about thomas, youd all look stupid as hell trying to make fun of mattel. after all, thomas getting off their hands only gives them more time to focus on their more gimmicky and popular brands
I expect a low-budget horror parody announced day one.
Half the Thomas fanbase is standing outside the producer’s house day 2.
I hope not. 😬
Considering that it practically is in Public Domain with Mattel's idiocy and the fandom's reach, I wouldn't be worried.
Richard III got a WWII-styled adaptation in 1995 made possible by the public domain. In the hands of a creative genius, we could see a Thomas adaptation where the stories are set closer to the Golden Age of Steam than in canon and before WWII even or a retelling of the original book but with the adage of historical hindsight; giving the books more of that historical texture.
2067 is a long way off, yes. By that point, many of the fans that have grown up with the show in the 90's and the 2000's, (Myself included) would be in our senior years! (e.g. 2005 borns would be 62 by the time the RWS enters the public domain).
As a writer of a book about sentient talking vehicles, which was written with the style of the RWS in mind, yet taking my own spin on things (being set on a farm in Australia instead of the Island of Sodor) I've always had it in my head that my series happens to be one in the same canon as the RWS, just on the other side of the world. Unfortunately, in this instance I'd have to wait until 2067 for me to officially state that "Sodor exists in [x] project"
If I ever get to see that glorious day when it does enter the public domain, you can count me in as one of the writing crew, to keep Awdry's legacy alive!
That is a good video! Seeing fans take over Thomas when it hits public domain and doing their own production, I can see that happening and that is a long way away to 2067. Who know maybe when All Engines Go ends maybe we could see a revived series and if there was a revived series, I would want to keep in continuity with the classic tv series.
Never thought I’d make a cameo here 😂
Welcome to the Mechanical Shed-verse 😂
Can't wait to see what horror movie idea people come up with when thomas hits public domain
I’ll see you guys in the 2060’s when I finally make my own train-with-face series then have the characters travel to the Island of Sodor for an arc of episodes then leave afterwards.
I wrote this half-joking by the way, as original as it is for someone to say this, I have something that I work on. I call it "The Amwell County Railroad" (I abbreviate it to ACRR) it's American trains with faces intended to be more for teens and adults, and having references to things real-life Railroad history. Ideas circling around my head are things referencing like the debate over BEDT 15 being rebuilt, the Russian Decapods, K-28's that went to Alaska, the rare American Diesel Hydraulic, and definitely more but generally those are all the ideas I got and want to share off the top of my head.
Please don't expect anything major to come from this, it's just a UA-cam comment.
I’ll be 57 by the time 2067 happens
Man, I’ll be old
You could voice Toby!
I won’t even be alive💀
I'll be 64 (I was born in 2003). I have no clue what my life will be like that long from now, but I hope I'll have a prosperous career in something. Though considering my lifestyle I might not even live that long XD.
I might@@henriquefernandesbreves6003
I will be 56
We can make the model series we always wanted
What I'm curious of is, in addition to what could, or will, happen when Thomas enters the Public Domain, what will happen when other train-themed stories (like The Little Engine That Could) enter the Public Domain?
Well we’ll all be old or at least middle aged by 2067 (being born in 2004 I’ll be 63 if I’m still around by then) so who knows what the younger Thomas fan generation by then will do with it (if there even is much of it then), imagine me seeing how it goes with my grandchildren and wondering wtf is going on if something dumb is happening though in May 2045 for the 100th anniversary of the whole franchise I’ll only be 40 before turning 41 in June
Hopefully All Engines Go will end and they’ll go back to the original continuity starting from where they left off
I quite like the research put into this video, Mechanical Shed. Though if I were to make a Thomas franchise once Thomas enters the public domain in the 2060's. No matter how old a lot of us will become or have died by the time Thomas does enter the public domain in 2067 (UK copyright laws or otherwise), I would gladly make it purely out of respect and love and something for all children and adults to enjoy (like Bluey, Adventure Time, Animaniacs, SpongeBob, Bob the Builder, etc.) and not for the sake of acting just as egotistical as the rest of the fandom or Mattel respectively. But I would rather let someone else do that for me as long as I enjoy it, and not see it become worse than the reboot that must not be named or those abominable 75th anniversary UA-cam-exclusive miniseries shows that nobody remembers or even likes.
Honestly, so many people are gonna be coming out of retirement and I'm all for that 😂 Just be careful not to use anything outside of Wilbert's books coz it's only those that will be free for a while!
@@mechanicalshed4556 Good point.
you forgot that "Oswald the lucky rabbit" was once public domain and some of the "Winnie the pooh" characters too
If that does somehow end up happening, I would make a sort of "semi reboot" of The Railway Series books to add some characters like some of TULT's take on some TV characters if they were in the RWS. And make a book which is a canon version of Thomas and The Evil Diesel but make it a redemption arc for Diesel called "North Western Redemption" even make the missing books that were never made and rewrite "Centenary" to feel like a conclusion to the original saga of books with a added total of 50 books and then make a series that serves as a continuation after 2011 called "The Railway Series: Adventures Of Really Useful Engines" and it would continue on from 2011 to now and beyond.
Will be very old people by then when these franchises get Freed.
I'll be coming out of retirement to make new talking train show 🤣
This is a quite terrifying thing to think about… Thomas entering public domain could lead to some unfortunate things, such as bad horror movies and video games…
I would love for ThomasTankMerch to show us rushes of The Missing Coach
5:31 That's why I didn't want Disney to lose the rights of my favorite Disney character
I just hope this doesn't mean people will make Sodor Fallout and Shed 17 movies😒
Me too!
Can’t believe I’ll be 70 when Thomas enters the public domain!
Technically Thomas would've been in the pubic domain back in 2015.
I am not a lawyer, but I understood that copyright expiry was the first day of the year after 70 years after death - for a death in 1997, this would be 1 January 2068.
Funny thing really, I've said, in my tweet very long while ago, which I was unable to find it now, but I said.
If Thomas entered Public Domain, the Fandom or perhaps Project Tiger Moth, or even better Whitehousefilms would resume T&F with Series 25. It would be very impressive to imagine that the show would aired from television S1-24 to UA-cam S25-present.
This is very complicated. I still think why we fans could be the downfall!
Honestly you talking about this gives me hope and a little worry when the time dose come
You should also include TATMR and Shining Time Station on that list.
I'd love to make a TTTE/ Shining Time Station reboot/ continuation, but by the time STS comes to the public domain, yeah I'll be long gone.
The last Sherlock Holmes stories became public domain last year. Seeing what happens to Holmes in the next couple years might be a much better indicator of pop culture’s reaction to public domain than the things with ties to the mouse house.
I wouldn’t mind seeing a redux of the HIT era season that instead stuck to and followed the season 5/6 quality, still maintain some of the new characters such as Emily, Salty, etc, and embellish on the ones that became more mainstream in the 8-12 era, such as Rosie or whatever. So many engines were brought in for exactly one episode and were never heard from again. As for the cgi, I’d love certain things to be kept, like Hero of the Rails, but all in model form….
Hopefully sometime when all of the Thomas media to date enters the public domain some Thomas fan somewhere will do that!
Thanks for making this!
I was really wondering when Thomas becomes public domain...
So basically the fandom has to come together to create a non-profit organization to continue production of Thomas after it enters the public domain
And I also really hope more of Mattel's 3D models and scenes from Thomas get leaked because greedy corporations should not be respected.
I could already be a grandfather by the time it enters the public domain
Dear god
If Thomas Became public domain. It would finally be in the safe hands of its loyal fandom.
The fandom should just start a kick started to purchase the franchise IMO.
This is exactly what I was thinking about a few weeks ago
Oh I have an idea!
🎶Mickey on a railway picking up stoneeees👆 🎶
🎶🎶🎶Down came a engine and broke Mickey's bones 🦴🦴🦴🦴🎶🎶🎶
🎶🎶🎶🎶 ah! Said mickey! That’s not fair!
So there is going to be a long wait before Thomas becomes public domain. I'll be an old man then in my 60s! Overall, I agree with you, while I defiantly fear what people who hardly know anything about Thomas, by this I mean those not in the fandom or those who say Thomas creeped them out, or it's fascist blah blah blah, will do the characters, we can't deny that there is plenty of headache with in the fandom itself that will cause more clashes than what we already have now once the copyright expires in 2067. Overall, the fandoms greatest enemy is ourselves and I don't think there is much we can do than what we already do and that is putting our talents to use from the inspirational, magical island that is Sodor. And here is something else, what about TUGS going public domain? That's something else to think about!
Honestly, to turn many things into cringey horror is just a predictable reaction to the way the world is heading towards. I get it. However, if such stories are created with tact and not necessarily a slash and hack style blood gore-e.g. a mystery psychological thriller-that would be interesting to watch. Beyond that, other works exist in the public domain that are waiting to be used in amazing ways (the Oz books, other legendary books and stories, music, films, etc). It’s a free for all. But if material is synthesized in the best way possible, it’ll churn out into something exciting. But I do agree with ya. Will certainly be in my 70s if I make it by then, watching em youngsters do something wacky 😂
Thomas’s current owners are gonna fight tooth and nail to prevent Thomas from entering the public domain.
They'll likely have no say when it comes to the books, but they'll certainly protect the TV series with everything they've got.
My honest opinion about this video i would support Thomas going into the public domain as we all know what mattle has done with the brand/franchise.
If that happens, i would bring back Thomas and Friends Roleplay
Liked the engine discourse format 5:00
On one hand, Thomas would be free of Mattel's clutches, as Mattel had been horribly mistreating him since late 2017. On the other hand, Thomas would be subject to a horror film the way Winnie the Pooh and Steamboat Mickey have been, and who knows what else?
Sodor fallout?
And there also more horror films out there
I can see it now
Voice Actors - TheRealTrampy
Music - Milo The Otter Or Upside Now
Models And Sets Made By - FlyingPringle
Writers - The Unlucky Tug And The Real Trampy
Now That Would Be Amazing
7:19 I hope I'm still alive to support this idea.
To be fair, with the way the Thomas Fandom treats the Thomas property, he already is public domain.
People already make Thomas original characters, so it doesn't matter all that much.
The Railway Series won't be in a Public Domain until New Years day, 2041.
I can't wait until our favorite Tank Engine and the others become public domain
I don’t want Thomas to be in the public domain! Otherwise, someone will make a horror movie out of him!
WE WOULD FINALLY HAVE
SODOR FALLOUT THE MOVIE
I'm surprised there was not a mention of the Cursed Thomas or Shed 17 creepypastas that's been floating around online. They are examples of how Thomas The Tank Engine could potentially meet the same fate Winnie the Pooh and Mikey Mouse upon entering the public domain. Come 2067, there would be nothing illegal about adapting such nightmare fuels into commercially distributed movies.
Personally, I hope it means that a Thomas series the public wants will arise!
As much as we tend to focus on bad things, I like to focus on the good. I think that with Thomas in Public Domain, British companies and loyal fans may put him to good use and bring back the Thomas we truly love.
On that note what you said about the "adult language thomas" the Trainz and TRS people often take the thomas idea to the PG13 levels and above, often just to avoid the "kids only content" which is YT's own flawed algorithum, you don't seem to understand FTC rules like we do.
Oh no I totally get that, it's a very awkward situation for the UA-camrs. UA-cam Kids has been a pain in the neck for loads of us, especially in the Thomas fandom. For an official franchise/series and such you would be under a different set of circumstances than to making fan content on the internet. 😊
If Thomas the Tank Engine enters the public domain, then I would be free to use him.
Gonna take my best guess here and say that people can use the public domain version of Thomas (yes, there’s a difference) as they see fit.
It DOESN'T mean they can reupload full, unedited episodes of the show.
Bingo! It'll only apply to anything that Awdry himself has penned, until the TV series itself enters public domain. But considering how Thomas has changed hands during his TV tenure, I daren't think about what that means for the copyright laws 😵💫
I've thought about this question, but I already know the answer. Simply put, if Thomas were in the Public Domain, the franchise would easily be revitalized if put into the right hands, mine included, without being held back by the shackles of the ignorant cooperates of Mattel.
The reboot could easily be cancelled by then, though I have a feeling that it won't exist beyond a few months or years from now.
If there's a movie, I got a whole voice cast. ( just note that this list does not obey the word "budget", nor does it notice that some people on this list may be dead )
Thomas - Tom Holland
Edward / Duck - Stephen Manghan
Henry - Russel Saradier
Gordon / The Fat Controller - Peter Weller
James - Chevy Chase
Percy / Donald & Douglas / Bill & Ben / Jack / Peter Sam - Robbie Williams
Toby - Rutger Hauer
Oliver / Alfie / Stepney - Lee Evans
Diesel 10 - Tom Baker
Emily / Daisy / Annie & Clarabel - Joanna Lumley
Toad / Rheneas - Jim Broadbent
Molly - Alex Kingston
Rosie - Amber Salisbury
Bertie - Andrew Brent
Diesel / Salty - Kellen Goff
George - Clint Walker
Bulgy - Matthew Lillard
Spencer - Sir Patrick Stewart
Neville - David Near
Cranky - Bruce Campbell
Arry & Bert - James Cagney
Carly - Amanda Tapping
Billy / The Thin Controller - Richard Dean Anderson
Charlie - Michael Shanks
Murdoch - Michael Rosen
BoCo - Timothy Busfield
Mavis - Tara Strong
Arthur / Dodge - Richard Hammond
Duncan - David Tennant
Bear - Christopher Judge
The Works Diesel - Steve Buscemi
Flying Scotsman - Mark Edward Fischback
City of Truro - Josh Hutcherson
Dennis - John Hannah
Norman / Splatter - Kevin J. O'Connor
Merlin - Dean Jones
Derek - Keith Gordon
Den - James Coburn
Dart - John Stockwell
Oliver ( excavator ) - Joseph Pelling
( damn, that took a while )
Grab the notes, because maybe that generation will make something good
In my opinion, even though I am so against the idea of having Thomas in a horror genre once the series enters the Public Domain, but I do believe there are good things that could happen if there are studios doing their own spin on the series. After all, I've seen really cool AUs that fans did to make me feel this way.
5:16 ayy is dat ma boy ninos duncan?
Got to hold him at the extravaganza last year, such a grand model!
@@mechanicalshed4556 he was working on a rusty around the same time but i think that project fell flat. hes back on his ho kick again but ion know wat hes revealed so dats all ima say 🙃
It already is, that's how All engines go was invented.
How I wish All Engines Go was a product of the public domain, however it is created by the current legal owners of the Thomas and Friends franchise. New show, same owners, like with Nickelodeon and the TMNT.
@@mechanicalshed4556 Thomas ended with Season 11, or more people would prefer 5. its up to you to decide whats cannon and whats not. in my eyes Mattel's era is just a big bad fanfilm.
I mean, people already make adult dubs of Thomas through George Carlin's comedy or original dubs like the videos made by Trampy.
If Thomas became public domain, I'd create a CGI Classic-Series Styled show and do the following:
1. Add more realism to the world, like in TUGS.
2. Add more British Characters.
3. Show the Peel Godred Branch with its electric engines.
4. Adapted more of the RWS stories, history, and lore.
5. Reposition locations from the model series to where they'd be located in the RWS, with a few exceptions.
Just to name a few.
Good to know that I won't have to worry that much about reaching 60 since I'll be 35 by the time John Kenney's version of Thomas and the others reach public domain.
i get ur points i really do but u do have to think how many shows if one would be picked up by different companies as u said thomas isnt as ionic as there most likely would be a over saturation of the market
Very true, it'd probably be more of an issue of how many people/fans would be trying to pitch a new Thomas property rather than how many are actually taking off.
11:45 “at the end of the day, I don’t think any of that will become public domain in our lifetime”
It will be in mine!
Imagine if some low budget horror movie comes out about a killer thomas
And I thought the Railway series would be in the domain in 2039 and 2040!
Nope, quite some time to go yet! There is a 2039 rule for unpublished literature and works where anything of that nature becomes public domain in said year. But none of that applies to the Thomas books so it changes nothing for us.
@@mechanicalshed4556 hm ok
That sound like a long time for it
Indeed, I went into this hoping it would be 2045-ish but oh well 😂
@@mechanicalshed4556 well since you like Thomas and friends along with the railways series. What other cartoon you watch when your a kid? I was wondering about a Burbank become animated video… you know rocketwithapocket is working on his own project called Burbank become animated?
Personally, I've always wanted to make a love letter to Awdry, by making a railway series origin story, but from the perspective of Awdry as a child, and the Island of Sodor being real (just without the talking trains).
It's possible that you could do that anyway. You'd have to get permissions from the Awdry family, Mattel, e.t.c. in order to include certain bits but if it's the real life story of Wilbert Awdry the public domain shouldn't apply 🤔
@@mechanicalshed4556 Not real life, just portrayed that way, but obviously not advertised as such.
Unfortunately, the Island of Sodor isn't actually real.
@@mattevans4377 Oooh I see what you meant now, I read it as one of those biography films. Would be awesome seeing the Railway Series unfold from the Thin Clergyman's perspective!
I'll make a storyline in which Thomas and the other engines turn into human during the public domain
according to the UK Copyright Law a Broadcast goes into the public domain from 50 years from which the year the show aired meaning that The original Thomas And Friends show or at least season 1 idk will go into the public domain on 9 October 2034.
I think that only applies to the footage of the broadcast rather than the franchise as a whole. So in theory, it could be perfectly legal (in roughly a decade's time like you said) to exhibit Series 1 footage without paying royalties, but it wouldn't mean Thomas and Friends itself goes public domain.
@@mechanicalshed4556 so just the first season and then gradually all the seasons of the original show?
@@Progobro25 I think so 🤞 I think to get any conclusive answers or take this investigation into Thomas' public domain rights further it's going to require the involvement of a legal professional 😆
Honestly, i think tje most well see for the first deacde or so after it enters the public domain is remakes of already popular fan projects like victor tanzigs stories of sodor and wildnorwesters sodor the early/modern years series. And we will most definitely see horror adaptations, considering alot already exist. I think the 3 that will likely get adaptations first will be Timothy, shed 17 and sodor fallout.as again, their already popular. A big studio or 2 will definitely try and make their own cash grab movie, but remakes of fan adaptations will certainly be the dominant pieces of content we get when this happens
We all know what would happen if Thomas entered the public domain. Hollywood would make a horror movie out of anything nowadays. See Winnie the Pooh, see Snow White, see Bambi, see The Powerpuff Girls, see The Grinch, and now see Mickey Mouse.
Also there is trademark that the fans would have to work around. I'm not sure about the UK. But here in the US you can ONLY use the steam boat willy version of mickey and you can't even name him mickey. If you do you will be hit hard by Disney cause they own the current look and name of mickey.
So if we were to use Thomas it would HAVE to be made Useing ONLY the look of the railway series and that's it.
With Mickey it's more that all the other Mickeys are not public domain yet (film and broadcasts e.t.c. have a different copyright law to literature).
The trademarks thing I think applies in the UK too so whatever we did with our Thomas trains, we would probably not be allowed to call it "Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends" or "Thomas and Friends". "The Railway Series" or using Thomas' name in any other way should be fine. He could look however we like so long as it's not a 1-1 likeness of the TV version. :)
We shall revive the Glory Days of the Model Era
We need a law to prevent horror movies based on existing IPs entering the public domain.
But what I think the fandom needs to do to save Thomas from Mattel and AEG is to do a kick starter to purchase the franchise considering we have the talent to make stuff like the early seasons when Mattel does not.