Micky Mouse mistakes

John Sutherland's review of a new book on copyright (THES, March 3) has a number of errors: for example, in July 1995 United Kingdom copyright term extends to 70 years post mortem.

Contrary to what Sutherland says, there is no harmonisation with European copyright law. Second, the information superhighway does not demolish copyright law because copyright extends to machine-readable records and is not just based on print or paper. Indeed, the United States congress is considering changes in its copyright legislation to make the protection of networked data even stronger. Third, the US does not own the Internet, as Sutherland claims, only some (not all) of those networks that happen to be physically located in the US. Finally, Sutherland claims that the reason why Disney lawyers can get you for using a mouse is copyright; it is not.

Copyright in Micky Mouse expired a while ago. The reason you cannot make use of the character is because of the trademark laws and the law of passing off, very different from copyright.

CHARLES OPPENHEIM

Head of department

University of Strathclyde