Decency
On January 1, 2024, under U.S. copyright law, Disney will lose the copyright to the original version of Mickey Mouse in the famous 1928 animated short Steamboat Willie.
From Clarin
After 95 years since the creation of the famous Disney mouse, the copyright expires in 2024. When the film and the character of Mickey Mouse were released, the company secured the copyright for the next 56 years.
Some time later, when that period ended, the company pushed for an extension of the term to 75 years, which resulted in a lawsuit that was settled with an extension until 2024.
As of the New Year, every cartoonist, filmmaker, author and composer can do whatever they want with the first versions of the popular mouse.
A witness case
Mickey Mouse has long been a symbol in the copyright wars. Beyond the practical implications, the departure (95 years after its debut in Steamboat Willie) is also an important symbolic milestone.
“This is an important issue,” said Jennifer Jenkins, director of the Duke Center for the Study of the Public Domain. “It’s causing a lot of excitement in the copyright community; It’s something that’s finally happening.”
Mickey Mouse first appeared in the black and white animated film Steamboat Willie, created by animator Ubbe Iwwerks on behalf of Walt Disney. The cartoon was a pioneer in animation because it used synchronized sound in which movements on the screen corresponded with music and sound effects, creating one of the most recognizable images in film and television.
In the 1928 film, a mute Mickey appears, his longer nose more resembling that of a rat, painted with rudimentary eyes without pupils. Later versions of the character remain copyrighted, although they will also enter the public domain for decades to come.
In practice, the expiration of Steamboat Willie's copyright means that the black-and-white short can be shown without Disney's permission. However, Disney posted it for free on YouTube a few years ago.
What's coming
Every January 1st, JenniferJenkins releases a long list of works that artists can now remix and reimagine for free. This year's list features Tigger, the friendly tiger from Winnie the Pooh, who, like Mickey, made his first appearance in 1928.
Other works from 1928 include the books “Lady Chatterley's Lover” by DH Lawrence, the war book “All Quiet at the Front” and the film “The Cameraman” by Buster Keaton.
Read more in Clarin