Disney Drops Copyright Claim on 'Steamboat Willie' YouTube Parody

The decision comes after the iconic Mickey Mouse film entered the public domain, sparking a surge of non-Disney-sanctioned projects.

Disney has dropped its copyright claim on a comedic version of 'Steamboat Willie' posted on YouTube by content creator Brock Baker.
The original 'Steamboat Willie' film, featuring Mickey Mouse, entered the public domain on January 1, 2024.
Since the film's entry into the public domain, numerous non-Disney-sanctioned projects featuring Mickey Mouse have emerged.
Disney's decision to drop the copyright claim may set a precedent for how the company handles future copyright disputes related to public domain characters.
Despite the film's public domain status, Disney still holds a trademark on Mickey Mouse and a copyright on later iterations of the character.