When we found out that Winnie the Pooh would enter the public domain, people could not wait to do things involving that character so recognizable and loved by the public, or is that over the years, the characters that at some point belonged to Disney, have been going through the public domain and now is happening what no one believed, Mickey Mpuse, who has been the representative figure of the company and the cartoon that started it all, will come of age and now anyone can use it.
Mickey Mouse will be public domain in 2024
Even though Disney has done its best to stop this from happening, the law is the law and it will apply to Mickey Mouse.
“This is the time. This is Mickey Mouse. It’s exciting because in a way it’s symbolic. I feel like the tube on the steamboat as it smokes. How exciting,” said Jennifer Jenkins, a law professor and director of the Center for Public Domain Studies at Duke University.
In the United States, the Copyright Act lasts for 95 years; however, it was extended several times in Congress throughout the character’s life. Mickey Mouse will have many restrictions when using it, since the only character that will have access to the public domain will be Steamboat Captain Willie, a mute and more rat-like character, which can be used by artists and creators.
“The most modern versions of Mickey will not be affected by the expiration of Steamboat Willie’s copyright, and Mickey will continue to play a leading role as a global ambassador for the Walt Disney Company in our stories, theme park attractions and merchandise,” the company added.
What do you think about this? Do you think they will make more productions featuring the world’s most famous mouse?
