It does mean others could copy and distribute the work at their leisure. You can upload Steamboat Willie to YouTube, Wikipedia, or wherever now and there is not a thing* Disney can do to stop you.
The actors could have it in their contract that they get residuals for infinity years, but there’s not much of a reason for purchases to earn residuals from once the right of distribution becomes free to all.
*Not legally, at least, but YouTube is bad at checking legality of takedown requests
Expired copyright means others can make new content, not that the people who made the original content can no longer receive residuals.
It does mean others could copy and distribute the work at their leisure. You can upload Steamboat Willie to YouTube, Wikipedia, or wherever now and there is not a thing* Disney can do to stop you.
The actors could have it in their contract that they get residuals for infinity years, but there’s not much of a reason for purchases to earn residuals from once the right of distribution becomes free to all.
*Not legally, at least, but YouTube is bad at checking legality of takedown requests