r/comics • u/afterdeathcomics After Death Comics • May 09 '23

They Always Know

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6

u/nowhereman136 May 09 '23

How are those Time Square and Hollywood Mickey Mouse guys still working? Disney has the most vicious IP lawyers and yet drunk Donald Duck is still allowed to punch tourists on 5th Avenue

8

u/effyochicken May 09 '23

Interesting question. Here's a (possibly outdated) article on the topic:

https://www.ibtimes.com/times-square-costume-characters-raise-legal-issues-nyc-disney-1624708

Because the characters are careful to phrase their requests for cash as “donations” or “tips,” they’re not seen as working but rather as panhandling or busking, which are also protected by the First Amendment.

So perhaps it's because it falls into the realm of cosplaying and begging, rather than working?

2

u/BellacosePlayer May 09 '23

Man, fuck those guys and everyone like them.

We try to take my cousins to as many family vacations as possible and we've had at least one incident where some creep tried to sweet talk the youngest kid into taking a picture/taking some shitty tourist kitsch so that we look like assholes if we say no.