Los Angeles: With several asterisks, qualification and caveats, Mickey Mouse in his earliest form will be the leader of the band of characters, films and books that will become public domain as the year turns to 2024.
In a moment many observers thought might never come, at least one version of the quintessential piece of intellectual property and perhaps the most iconic character in American pop culture will be free from Disney’s copyright as his first screen release, the 1928 short “Steamboat Willie,” featuring Mickey and Minnie Mouse, becomes available for public use.
US law allows a copyright to be held for 95 years after Congress expanded it several times during Mickey’s life.
“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,” a Disney spokesperson said. “That will not change when the copyright in the Steamboat Willie film expires.”
Current artists and creators will be able to make use of Mickey, but with major limits. It is only the more mischievous, rat-like, non-speaking boat captain in “Steamboat Willie” that has become public.
“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,” Disney said, adding it “will work to safeguard against consumer confusion caused by unauthorised uses of Mickey and our other iconic characters.”
Steamboat Willie was actually the third cartoon featuring Mickey and Minnie but the first to be released. It features a more menacing Mickey captaining a boat and making instruments out of other animals.
Another famous animal sidekick, Tigger, will join his friend Winnie the Pooh in the public domain as the book in which the bouncing tiger first appeared, “The House at Pooh Corner,” turns 96. Pooh became public property two years ago when AA Milne’s “Winnie the Pooh” entered the public domain. Other properties entering the public domain are Charlie Chaplin’s “Circus,” Virginia Woolf’s “Orlando” and Eugene O’Neill’s “Long Day’s Journey into Night.”
In a moment many observers thought might never come, at least one version of the quintessential piece of intellectual property and perhaps the most iconic character in American pop culture will be free from Disney’s copyright as his first screen release, the 1928 short “Steamboat Willie,” featuring Mickey and Minnie Mouse, becomes available for public use.
US law allows a copyright to be held for 95 years after Congress expanded it several times during Mickey’s life.
“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,” a Disney spokesperson said. “That will not change when the copyright in the Steamboat Willie film expires.”
Current artists and creators will be able to make use of Mickey, but with major limits. It is only the more mischievous, rat-like, non-speaking boat captain in “Steamboat Willie” that has become public.
“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,” Disney said, adding it “will work to safeguard against consumer confusion caused by unauthorised uses of Mickey and our other iconic characters.”
Steamboat Willie was actually the third cartoon featuring Mickey and Minnie but the first to be released. It features a more menacing Mickey captaining a boat and making instruments out of other animals.
Another famous animal sidekick, Tigger, will join his friend Winnie the Pooh in the public domain as the book in which the bouncing tiger first appeared, “The House at Pooh Corner,” turns 96. Pooh became public property two years ago when AA Milne’s “Winnie the Pooh” entered the public domain. Other properties entering the public domain are Charlie Chaplin’s “Circus,” Virginia Woolf’s “Orlando” and Eugene O’Neill’s “Long Day’s Journey into Night.”
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