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Kermit as he appears in Sam and Friends.
Kermit as he appears in the Esskay Meats Commercials.
Kermit is a lizard-like Muppet who serves as a character in Sam and Friends by Jim Henson. Although he is a kindhearted figure, he is gullible, which typically causes him to be a causes him to be a victim to such as Mack as shown in the commercials.
Public Domain Appearances[]
Television[]
- Sam and Friends (1955) (Currently partially lost)
Advertising[]
- Esskay Meats Commercials (1961..?)
- Pak-Nit fabric products commerical (1965)
Copyright Status[]
- Sam and Friends never renewed it's copyright nor had a notice on any of its episodes that survive, making the series likely entering the public domain when it first aired. There is a renewal for a unknown work titled Kermit The Muppet in 1985, although this is likely only for a unpublished childrens book or work and isn't the first apperance of the character. Despite talks of the character being "textile art" that was renewed, there is no proof to support this information and the character's first legal debut was in Sam and Friends.
- Kermit also appears in the Esskay Meats Commercials and they were published without notices which were required for most pre-recorded things on TV such as commercials before 1981, making them public domain when first aired. If the commercials aired in 1961, they wouldn't have been renewed either.
- Disney still owns the trademark on "Kermit" despite being a common name, and Kermit was not seen as a frog until on the Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson. This means that although Kermit can legally be used within a work of fiction, he can't be used in a way to confuse Disney or the Jim Henson Company is involved and his name might not be able to be used in the title. Basically, do the South Park situation (Clyde) to avoid possible legal trouble.
- Kermit's public domain status (as well as other copyright statuses of Jim Henson's past characters) is a much disputed and controversial case on the Public Domain subreddit and Public Domain Superheroes wiki due to people disagreeing or agreeing whenever Sam and Friends was published. (despite information surfacing that it likely was since broadcasts are considered "published" when aired except for unscripted News and Sports stations.) A infamous post labeled "Why do People still Think Jim Henson's characters are Public Domain" despite gaining 20+ upvotes is a false post due to the fact many of Jim Henson's no-notice works are considered and heavily confirmed to be public domain in the United States and many of his older commercials can be found on Wikisource, which is a reliable site for public domain works, debunking the post altogether. It's possible Kermit is public domain due to Sam and Friends lacking a notice and never renewing it's copyrights on it's episodes. Basically, it's heavily likely most of Jim Henson's past commercial characters are in the public domain due to no notice or non-renewal. Kermit is also banned from PDSH Wiki but his other iteration aka Rumple Wrinkle Shrinkel Stretchelstiltzkin is still on the wiki.
- Only the Lizard-like version of Kermit is possibly in the public domain, the iconic frog version from 1969 is still under copyright due to his Daily Show appearance being recorded live (which didn't count as publishment for non-precorded television works post-1964 and never published.)
- Miss Piggy and other characters are also still under copyright by Disney.