Original Mickey Mouse Entered In Public Domain After Almost Century Under Walt Disney

Disney Loses Mickey Mouse Rights!

Yes, You read right in the title. After 95 years, the original version of Mickey Mouse, the one you know from 1928’s “Steamboat Willie,” is officially entered the public domain in the United States. basically Mickey Mouse breaking free from copyright!

This means artists, filmmakers, and anyone with a spark of creativity can use this classic Mickey in their own works. While Disney still protects later versions of Mickey and his friends, this is a landmark moment for creativity and opens up exciting possibilities for the world of entertainment.

But, it’s also important to note that Disney might still stop or take legal action to those people who making Mickey Mouse anything too naughty or confusing people or may hurt Mickey’s image. But, still it’s a big win for the independent creators and filmmakers.

However, the modern Mickey we know and love stays with Disney until at least 2036. So don’t go wild making Mickey Mouse merch just yet! This is just a small step in a big copyright story.

The original Mickey Mouse is now in public domain. pic.twitter.com/ceX9d7OKBj

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) January 1, 2024

What Is Public Domain and How It Works?

“Public Domain” is a vast realm of creative works that are, essentially, free for all. These works are not protected by copyright or any other intellectual property right, meaning anyone can use them freely, without permission or payment. For Example, A giant library where the books are open to everyone, forever.

How Does It Works?

So, In most of the countries, copyright lasts for a limited period, typically the life of the author plus 70 years. Once that period expires, the work falls into the public domain, Or Works created before copyright laws existed automatically enter the public domain. For Another Example, After A.A. Milne’s “Winnie-the-Pooh” became a public domain in 2022, a horror movie that took a slasher approach to the bear’s obsession with honey quickly came out.

What Are The Other Characters Who Entering In Public Domain?

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