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- An early version of Mickey Mouse has entered the public domain.
- It was first featured in Walt Disney's 1928 short film "Steamboat Willie."
- Modern versions of the character will be unaffected by the move.
An early version of Mickey Mouse has entered the public domain for the first time today, ending a decadeslong battle by The Walt Disney Company to prevent the move.
The character was first featured in Disney's 1928 short film "Steamboat Willie," but it has some key differences from modern iterations, most notably lacking Mickey's gloves and oversize shoes.
The earlier version of Mickey Mouse also had small black ovals for eyes, compared to the modern version's larger eyes.
Disney had held the copyright for 95 years and had fought to extend it in Congress.
"It's sometimes derisively referred to as the Mickey Mouse Protection Act," Jennifer Jenkins, a Duke law professor, told The Associated Press.
However, as of January 1, 2024, the iconic character is now in the public domain, at least to a certain degree.
In a statement to CNN, a Disney spokesperson said: "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."
The spokesperson added that Disney would "continue to protect our rights in the more modern versions of Mickey Mouse and other works that remain subject to copyright, and we will work to safeguard against consumer confusion caused by unauthorized uses of Mickey and our other iconic characters."
Trying to make use of Mickey Mouse could be fraught with challenges.
Rebecca Tushnet, a Harvard Law School professor, told CNN that "whatever you do, to be protected against copyright infringement claims … you really have to be making new stuff and be sure you are basing it on Steamboat Willie."
Mickey Mouse isn't the first beloved character to enter the public domain. In 2022, the initial version of Winnie the Pooh also became free to use.
The character quickly became the star of a slasher film, "Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey."