Mickey Mouse becomes public property on January 1 as copyright expires
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 ‘Steamboat Willie’ is set to become public property in the new year
- The American pop culture icon has been closely guarded from imitation by copyright law for 95 years
- Now artists will be able to recreate the earliest versions of Mickey in their own creative works for free
The earliest incarnation of Mickey Mouse is set to become public property in the new year, after its stringent 95-year copyright finally runs out.
Mickey Mouse, as seen in his first screen appearance in the 1928 short ‘Steamboat Willie’ will be become public domain on January 1, 2024.
The American pop culture icon has been closely guarded from imitation by copyright law, which allows a copyright to be held for 95 years.
Congress expanded the law to its current length several times since Mickey’s creation leading some to dub it the Mickey Mouse Protection Act.
‘This is it. This is Mickey Mouse. This is exciting because it’s kind of symbolic,’ Jennifer Jenkins, director of Duke’s Center for the Study of Public Domain, told KTLA.
Mickey Mouse, as seen in his first screen appearance in the 1928 short ‘Steamboat Willie’
Mickey’s 1928 iteration will be become public domain on January 1, 2024
More modern versions of Mickey will still be protected by Disney’s copyright
‘I kind of feel like the pipe on the steamboat, like expelling smoke. It’s so exciting,’ she added.
‘It’s sometimes derisively referred to as the Mickey Mouse Protection Act,’ Jenkins said of the copyright act extension.
‘That’s oversimplified because it wasn’t just Disney that was pushing for term extension. It was a whole group of copyright holders whose works were set to go into the public domain soon, who benefited greatly from the 20 years of extra protection.’
However, creatives and fans who wish to use Mickey’s, and his partner Minnie’s, likeness in their own creative works will be subject to conditions and limitations.
It is only the version of Mickey that appears in ‘Steamboat Willie’ that will be licensed.
More modern versions will remain under copyright for years to come.
Disney still solidly and separately holds a trademark on Mickey as a corporate mascot and brand identifier, and the law forbids 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 limitations
Congress expanded the law to its current length several times since Mickey’s creation leading some to dub it the Mickey Mouse Protection Act
‘Mickey will continue to play a leading role as a global ambassador for the Walt Disney Company in our storytelling, theme park attractions, and merchandise’ the company said
Anyone starting a film company or a theme park will not be free to make mouse ears their logo, for example.
‘Ever since Mickey Mouse’s first appearance in the 1928 short film Steamboat Willie, people have associated the character with Disney’s stories, experiences, and authentic products,’ Disney said in a statement.
‘That will not change when the copyright in the Steamboat Willie film 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 storytelling, theme park attractions, and merchandise.’
Adding: ‘We will, of course, continue to protect our rights in the more modern versions of Mickey Mouse and other works that remain subject to copyright.’
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