I think (have to find it again) that the original Alice illustrations
are now public domain, Disney have never held the rights to Alice
just their own interpritation of Alice, they don't hold the colour
the dress nothing, just their particular drawing of her, I had a load
of free graphics when it went public, but ill see if I can find it all
it, the book itself is of course Copy write, but the illustratons
are not.......... but ill check the soures on that, I was going to use
her myself and I do have a lot of Alice works that are out there being
purchased
Disney can't copy write the story, or the look the colour, similar to
anything Robin Hood, etc and so on, these are not Disney's to say
yes or no to they have no rights to Alice who is originally dressed
that way because that's what they wore them days...... and Alice
herself is always in those colours has been since what is it the middle
1800's? 1865 ish I think.
I think you could find a million thing's Disney uses that just aint theirs to own,
they only own their interpitations, I can list at least 20 Disney films that you
could do your own interpritation on, if those images themselfs the originals are
in the domain.
I'ts like trying to copywrite Peter Pan they can't do that either
or 100 Dalmations and the list could go on and on.
Tenniel died in 1914, so is comfortably in the public domain.
Similarly, according to the National Library of Scotland site, Maria
Kirk died in the 1930s, so is also in the public domain. Arthur
Rackham died in 1939, so is also in the public domain.
Tenniel being the or one of the original or early Illustrations.
You have to remember DISNEY own THEIR image of Alice
they do NOT or ever have had rights to the ORIGINAL interpritation
of Alice who is in a blue dress has blond hair, shoves herself down
a rabbit hole etc, Disney BORROW things from old old stories, some folklaw
from Germany and the UK, in this case Scotland.. so as far as Disney goes
they would be right to copy write tinkerbell as you see her now in your mind
but If I made a fairy in green etc and all that and called it Tinkerbell Disney could
do nothing as they don't have rights to Tinkerbell herself (think this ones off limits anyway but just an example)