Mickey Mouse To Become Public Domain In 2024

TV & Film

Jan 28

The most famous cartoon character of all time is undoubtedly Mickey Mouse. Created after Walt Disney lost the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, the iconic cartoon mouse designed by Disney and Ub Iwerks (and originally voiced by Disney as well), Mickey Mouse is a well-known cultural icon in every generation. However, nothing lasts forever, and that includes the hold Disney has on Mickey.

Copyrights have a limited time, and we have almost hit the point where Mickey’s will run out. From there, Mickey is fair game to whoever wants to use him. It is the same situation with Winnie-the-Pooh on January 1, 2022. Pooh had just barely become public domain when the slasher film, Blood and Honey was released. Technically speaking, if somebody wanted to make Mickey Mouse: Slaughter at the Mouse House or… whatever, they could. Sell your own Mickey Mouse t-shirts and make a billion dollars? Go for it. Add Mickey Mouse to your roster of characters at a theme park you own? Nothing in your way.

Sort of.

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There are two main iterations of Mickey Mouse, and only one is actually becoming public domain. As a New York Times article clarified, “This nonspeaking Mickey has a rat-like nose, rudimentary eyes (no pupils) and a long tail. He can be naughty. In one Steamboat Willie scene, he torments a cat. In another, he uses a terrified goose as a trombone.”

To put it in simpler terms, Steamboat Willie’s Mickey is entering public domain, but Disney’s Mickey Mouse is not.

Public Domain
Image Source: Film School Rejects

The other factor in all of this is the concept of trademarks. A work is copyrighted the moment it is created. When someone writes a novel, the novel is copyrighted without that person registering it, though it is suggested in order to prove that the creator owns the work. On the other hand, a trademark refers to brands and logos, and has to be registered. For example, Harry Potter is copyrighted, but McDonald’s golden arches are trademarked.

Mickey Mouse is the same way. The copyright for the character (or the early iteration of him) is expiring, but the trademark for Mickey, the mascot for Disney, is not. Trademarks are something that must be re-registered if a company or individual wants to retain the rights. Disney never has to worry about that. If nuclear war breaks out and humanity is left with ten survivors, one of them will be keeping track of and protecting the iconic three-circle logo of Mickey Mouse’s trademark.

This does complicate things for anyone who would want to, for example, make a Blood and Honey-style movie starring Mickey Mouse. They would have to be extra careful such that there could not be a single moment that touched the copyright of the version of Mickey that still belongs to Disney. Any creators have to ensure whatever product they are producing is not related to Disney in any way.

On January 1, 2024, the Steamboat Willie version of Mickey Mouse will become public domain. However, don’t expect to see any horror movies based on him. Anyone coming close to the trademark or the copyright of the more modern version will be shut down instantly. This is until the rules are fully understood. Of note, Pluto and Donald Duck’s copyrights are expiring shortly as well. It may be time for the three of them to star in their own fighting game with a bunch of other public domain characters. Slasher film Steamboat Willie vs. Slasher film Pooh. Let’s do it.

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