Mickey Mouse is set to become public property on January 1 as 95-year copyright on earliest version of iconic Disney character expires meaning fans can reproduce his likeness for FREE
- Mickey Mouse, as seen in his first screen appearance in the 1928 short film 'Steamboat Willie', will become public property in the new year
- The American pop culture icon has been strictly protected from imitation by copyright law for 95 years
- Now artists can recreate the earliest versions of Mickey in their own creative works for free
The earliest incarnation of Mickey Mouse will become public property in the new year after its strict 95-year copyright finally expires.
Mickey Mouse, as seen in his first screen appearance in the 1928 short film “Steamboat Willie,” will become public domain on January 1, 2024.
The American pop culture icon is strictly protected from imitation by copyright law, which allows a copyright to be retained for 95 years.
Congress has expanded the law to its current length several times since Mickey's creation, leading some to call it the Mickey Mouse Protection Act.
'This is it. This is Mickey Mouse. This is exciting because it's a bit symbolic,” Jennifer Jenkins, director of Duke's Center for the Study of Public Domain, told me. KTL.
Mickey Mouse, as seen in his first film appearance in the 1928 short film “Steamboat Willie.”
Mickey's 1928 version will become public domain on January 1, 2024
More modern versions of Mickey will still be protected by Disney copyright
'I feel a bit like the pipe on the steamboat, like expelling smoke. It's so exciting,” she added.
“It is sometimes derisively referred to as the Mickey Mouse Protection Act,” Jenkins said of the expansion of copyright law.
“That's too simplistic because it wasn't just Disney that pushed for an extension of the deadline. It was a whole group of copyright holders whose works would soon end up in the public domain, who benefited enormously from the twenty years of extra protection.'
However, creatives and fans who wish to use the likeness of Mickey and his partner Minnie in their own creative works will be subject to conditions and restrictions.
Only the version of Mickey that appears in “Steamboat Willie” will be licensed.
More modern versions will remain under copyright for years to come.
Disney still has a solid and separate trademark on Mickey as a corporate mascot and brand identifier, and the law prohibits using the character deceptively to fool consumers into thinking a product is from the original creator.
Creatives and fans who wish to use Mickey's likeness in their own creative works will be subject to conditions and restrictions
Congress has expanded the law to its current length several times since Mickey's creation, leading some to call it the Mickey Mouse Protection Act
“Mickey will continue to play a leading role as a global ambassador for the Walt Disney Company across our stories, theme park attractions and merchandise,” the company said.
Anyone who starts a film company or a theme park will not be free to make their logo from mouse ears, for example.
“Since Mickey Mouse's first appearance in the 1928 short film Steamboat Willie, people have associated the character with Disney stories, experiences and authentic products,” Disney said in a statement.
“That won't change when the copyright on the Steamboat Willie movie expires.
“More modern versions of Mickey will remain unaffected by the expiration of the Steamboat Willie copyright, and Mickey will continue to play a leading role as a global ambassador for the Walt Disney Company in our stories, theme park attractions and merchandise.”
Adding: 'We will of course continue to protect our rights to the more modern versions of Mickey Mouse and other works that remain copyrighted.'