Mickey Mouse's 'Steamboat Willie' and Tigger to Enter Public Domain

Disney to Retain Rights to Modern Versions of Characters, Uphold Trademarks

Mickey Mouse's 'Steamboat Willie' version will enter the public domain on January 1, 2024, marking the end of Disney's exclusive copyright over the character's earliest incarnation.
Tigger, another beloved cartoon character, will also enter the public domain on the same day, joining Winnie the Pooh who had already become a public character.
Disney will still retain the rights to the more modern versions of Mickey Mouse and other characters, and intends to uphold its trademarks, potentially limiting the creative liberties of other artists.
The transition of these characters into the public domain is seen as a landmark moment in U.S. copyright law history, given Disney's long-standing control over these iconic characters.
Despite the loss of exclusive rights to the original versions of these characters, Disney has stated that Mickey Mouse will continue to play a leading role as a global ambassador for the company.