On January 1, 2024 one of the world’s most famous cartoon characters will at long last enter the public domain — at least in his earliest incarnation. Mickey Mouse’s appearance in the 1928 animated short Steamboat Willie, directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks, is cutting ties to The Walt Disney Company’s copyright in the U.S. and sailing into the uncharted waters of public use.
Mickey and Disney have deferred this day for many years, thanks to expansions on copyright holding periods approved by the U.S. Congress several times, up to 95 years. These amendments to the law have been referred to as the “Mickey Mouse Protection Act,” although many other rights holders were active in campaigning for the additional 20 years of protection for their properties.
In a statement to The Associated Press from Disney, the company noted, “Ever since Mickey Mouse’s first appearance in the 1928 short film Steamboat Willie, people have associated the character with Disney’s stories, experiences, and authentic products. That will not change when the copyright in the Steamboat Willie film expires.”
The entertainment giant built on the shoulders of one whistling animated rodent added, “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 … We will, of course, continue to protect our rights in the more modern versions of Mickey Mouse and other works that remain subject to copyright.”
Also entering the public domain in the new year will be A.A. Milne’s Tigger, another frequent star of Disney productions, who joins his pal Winnie the Pooh (if there’s a Blood and Honey style project in the works for the bouncy tiger toy, let us know). Tigger first appeared in the book The House at Pooh Corner.
Learn more about public use works in the Duke Law blog’s annual “Public Domain Day” posts, check back January 1 for the 2024 crop.
[Source: AP]
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