Disney Lost the Mice Today

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
January 1, 2024
2 replies
736 views

On Jan 1, 2024, copyright to Disney's legendary Mickey & Minnie Mouse cartoon characters expired. They are in the public domain now. See below for more details.

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Nancy OShea

Author

Community Expert

They didn't waste any time! This slasher movie trailor dropped the same day Mickey went public domain.

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert

PaintedKitty

Community Expert

Goodness! Who watches that trashy stuff? But I guess one mans' trash is another person's meal for the eyes. 😝

John T Smith

Community Expert

Per Google search... Mickey Mouse's first appearance was in the 1928 short film 'Steamboat Willie

Disney disn't lose anything, the copyright simply timed out and ended

J E L

Community Expert

@John T Smith, as I understand it, the image of Mickey in “Steamboat Willie” is the only public-domain image. Even if you add his trademark gloves, which came later, you may be subject to a copyright violation. If they lost claim to one (crappy) image of Mickey Mouse, I don't think it's too much to crow about.

Abambo

Community Expert

@J E L ,

…and not to forget: Disney owns the trademark to Mikey! That's the smoking gun to sue anyone coming only near to the Mikey design. Trademarks are valid forever, as long as they are used and proof of use can be provided.

I collected year for year proof of use of our trademarks to prove the use in specific regions of the world, when the renewal date came along.

ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer

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