News Reedy Creek Improvement District and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District

[LAKid53]

I agree with Mark Willard. This is a great distraction to cover what the other hand is doing in the meantime.

I looked at the Legislature's calendar today. I think there's only been one amendment to the bill to-date. The special session ends this Friday.

 

[Andrew C]

I'm old enough to remember when the Left didn't think corporations were entitled to First Amendment protections.

Maybe this has been Ron’s secret strategy the whole time. To finally get them on board.

 

[SirLink]

QAnon believers have not been rounded up because saying the government is a bunch of blood drinking pedophiles is protected speech. Individuals could seek civil action but the government can’t do anything about it.

You guys need to change the system to introduce strong libel laws.

 

[Lord Starwalker]

Oh, without a doubt. Not that Disney was ever quick to act, but this will slow them down even further.

I'm certain that the Lake Nona Campus is done. Those jobs can stay in California, go to another state, or be done remotely.

Fantastic!... This sounds like a win-win for us Floridians living in DeSantisLand!

 

[CaptainAmerica]

You might want to read up on caselaw and the constitution: Freedom of speech in the US is freedom of speech without government consequences (with obvious exceptions for screaming fire, threatening life of POTUS, etc).

How is what the State of Florida doing NOT a first amendment violation?

The legislation doesn't target Disney specifically, first of all.

Second of all, revocation of a special privilege is not punishment. It's the way things ought to always be.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It is horrifying that people don't know what the First Amendment actually is and why it was written.

The entire bill of rights was introduced to say essentially the same thing…and very few people actually realize that.

Because you would need the history/context to understand it…not soundbite takes on tv programs that sell ad space

 

[LAKid53]

I am right. Or does the US not believe in slander/libel?

The proof for either slander or libel includes measurable damage. A difficult hurdle for a public official to jump.

 

[SorcererDonald16]

I have been reading along for updates on this debacle. This situation got so ugly so fast and it’s hard to see a positive ending to this for anyone.

In terms of the copyright issue being used to punish Disney, it is not a matter of what federal legislators do to Disney, it’s if they choose not to do anything. The Steamboat Willie iteration of Mickey’s copyright should have expired more than once already, but Disney repeatedly lobbied politicians to write new legislation or extend legislation allowing them (and other creatives) to retain copyrights longer. The politicians on both sides went along with it.

Steamboat Willie Mickey’s copyright expires in less than two years, and either 1998’s Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act (which amended the previous copyright law pertaining to Mickey) has to be changed again in some way or an entirely new law has to be passed for Disney to retain that copyright.

If Congress does absolutely nothing and says “Nope, sorry, not helping you out again,” Disney loses the copyright, but retains the copyright to later iterations of Mickey (presumably including versions like Sorcerer Mickey) until their time is also up. Snow White will face the same problem next decade. I somehow doubt Chapek even thought of any of this.

 

[castlecake2.0]

The Golden Oak people?

No, Golden Oak is not part of the District. These are people who live in Lake Buena Vista and Bay Lake (who are chosen by Disney to live there)

 

[lazyboy97o]

So if a private individual at a private company makes up a lie about a lawmaker to further pursue a false narrative against legislation.

Can that law maker not take the private company to court? If no that seems like a failed system.

You’re describing something different. Taking someone to court is nowhere near the same as pushing legislation intended to be punitive.

 

[Chip Chipperson]

The proof for either slander or libel includes measurable damage. A difficult hurdle for a public official to jump.

Particularly when there has been a lack of any examples of this alleged libel/slander provided.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I have been reading along for updates on this debacle. This situation got so ugly so fast and it’s hard to see a positive ending to this for anyone.

In terms of the copyright issue being used to punish Disney, it is not a matter of what federal legislators do to Disney, it’s if they choose not to do anything. The Steamboat Willie iteration of Mickey’s copyright should have expired more than once already, but Disney repeatedly lobbied politicians to write new legislation or extend legislation allowing them (and other creatives) to retain copyrights longer. The politicians on both sides went along with it.

Steamboat Willie Mickey’s copyright expires in less than two years, and either 1998’s Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act (which amended the previous copyright law pertaining to Mickey) has to be changed again in some way or an entirely new law has to be passed for Disney to retain that copyright.

If Congress does absolutely nothing and says “Nope, sorry, not helping you out again,” Disney loses the copyright, but retains the copyright to later iterations of Mickey (presumably including versions like Sorcerer Mickey) until their time is also up. Snow White will face the same problem next decade. I somehow doubt Chapek even thought of any of this.

…I’ll tell you: this amount of quick escalation is impressive

 

[lazyboy97o]

I have been reading along for updates on this debacle. This situation got so ugly so fast and it’s hard to see a positive ending to this for anyone.

In terms of the copyright issue being used to punish Disney, it is not a matter of what federal legislators do to Disney, it’s if they choose not to do anything. The Steamboat Willie iteration of Mickey’s copyright should have expired more than once already, but Disney repeatedly lobbied politicians to write new legislation or extend legislation allowing them (and other creatives) to retain copyrights longer. The politicians on both sides went along with it.

Steamboat Willie Mickey’s copyright expires in less than two years, and either 1998’s Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act (which amended the previous copyright law pertaining to Mickey) has to be changed again in some way or an entirely new law has to be passed for Disney to retain that copyright.

If Congress does absolutely nothing and says “Nope, sorry, not helping you out again,” Disney loses the copyright, but retains the copyright to later iterations of Mickey (presumably including versions like Sorcerer Mickey) until their time is also up. Snow White will face the same problem next decade. I somehow doubt Chapek even thought of any of this.

Disney thought of this long ago which is why they also have trademarks, which do not expire, on many of their characters.

 

[LAKid53]

I am beyond certain that Disney is preparing to bombard every politician who supported then, and the challengers to those that didn't with more money than they need to win.

You don't think Disney's lobbyists aren't in Tallahassee right now roaming the corridors of both the House and Senate having discussions with members of the Legislature? They are.... During Session, even a special one, you're tripping over them... everywhere.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

And here we go…

Exclusive | As Disney flails, Hollywood weighs a possible Bob Iger comeback

Hollywood insiders questioned whether 71-year-old Bob Iger would be able to restrain himself from reaching for the wheel at Disney after a series of missteps by Bob Chapek.

nypost.com

 

[mikejs78]

You guys need to change the system to introduce strong libel laws.

An individual lawmaker can take someone to court for libel, but the bar is high because they are a public figure.

The government cannot take action as the government against someone for speech. Hard stop. And no, our system of free speech is just fine the way it is, thank you very much.

The legislation doesn't target Disney specifically, first of all.

Second of all, revocation of a special privilege is not punishment. It's the way things ought to always be.

Yet the governor and legislators have said that it is specifically about Disney.

And yes, removal of privileges in retaliation for speech is a punishment.

You want to discuss and debate whether reedy Creek is a good thing or not? Go ahead. Have the debate. Set up a commission. Consider the consequences. This is doing none of those things. This is rushing this through so DeSantis can own Disney, consequences be damned.

 

[Joel]

Ignoring current legal precedent for a second, I feel fairly safe in asserting that the First Amendment was not written with the suddenly sacrosanct rights and interests of The Walt Disney Company in mind.

 

[SirLink]

So which comments by Disney were libelous/slanderous?

At the 'reimagine tomorrow' company retreat re: the Parental Rights in Education Bill, can't remember all of it there was a video leaked tried looking for it but looks like it was pulled.

 

[mkt]

You don't think Disney's lobbyists aren't in Tallahassee right now roaming the corridors of both the House and Senate having discussions with members of the Legislature? They are.... During Session, even a special one, you're tripping over them... everywhere.

I know they are - I've been texting with one.

 

[mkt]

At the 'reimagine tomorrow' company retreat re: the Parental Rights in Education Bill, can't remember all of it there was a video leaked tried looking for it but looks like it was pulled.

What words were said - what was libelous? What was slanderous?

Why then pursue this law, rather than civil action against those who said it?