Disney's Original Mickey Mouse Persona to Enter Public Domain in 2024

Despite the expiration of the copyright for Steamboat Willie, more modern versions of Mickey Mouse will remain under Disney's control.

Disney's copyright for the original Mickey Mouse persona, Steamboat Willie, is set to expire on 1 January 2024, allowing the character to enter the public domain.
The expiration of the copyright means that others are free to use and adapt the character as they see fit, although Disney will continue to market the movie and its characters.
Disney has previously fought to preserve its ownership of Steamboat Mickey, lobbying for the 1998 Copyright Extension Act that extended the shield for published works to 95 years.
Despite the expiration, more modern versions of Mickey Mouse will remain unaffected and continue to play a leading role as a global ambassador for the Walt Disney Company.
Other works entering the public domain in 2024 include J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan, A. A. Milne's The House at Pooh Corner, and Virginia Woolf's Orlando.