Original 'Steamboat Willie' Mickey Mouse Enters Public Domain

Disney Retains Rights Over Modern Iterations Amid Surge of Creative Reinterpretations

Mickey Mouse, as portrayed in the 1928 films 'Steamboat Willie' and 'Plane Crazy', entered the public domain on January 1, 2024, leading to a surge of parodies, memes, and reinterpretations of the character.
Disney, which has historically fought hard to maintain copyright control over Mickey Mouse, still retains rights over modern iterations of the character.
Only the original, gloveless, dot-eyed, black-and-white version of Mickey Mouse from 'Steamboat Willie' is free from copyright.
Despite the character's new public domain status, Disney has warned it will continue to protect its rights in the more modern versions of Mickey Mouse and other works that remain subject to copyright.
Many creators have used the newly public domain character in a variety of ways, from horror films and video games to irreverent memes and remixes.