Change is inevitable, even for the Disney classics. The Walt Disney Company successfully slowed the ticking hands of time for decades, keeping characters out of the public domain by lobbying for extended copyright protections with what some activists called “The Mickey Mouse Protection Act.”
Eventually, their efforts failed, and the earliest versions of Mickey Mouse entered the public domain this January. They included the iconic Steamboat Willie (1928), which creatives wasted no time incorporating into gory video games, horror shorts, and other projects. The Walt Disney Company also lost copyright over early versions of other characters, including Minnie Mouse and Tigger.
When copyright protections ended for the black-and-white sailor mouse, The Walt Disney Company vowed to protect later versions of the character from illegal use until they also entered the public domain.
“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,” a Disney spokesperson said. “That will not change when the copyright in the Steamboat Willie film expires.”
“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,” the spokesperson continued. 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.
Almost a year later, The Walt Disney Company is preparing to lose its rights to more Mickey Mouse shorts. Most notably, The Karnival Kid (1929), which features the first talking Mickey Mouse, will enter the public domain in January 2025.
Eleven other Mickey Mouse shorts featuring versions of Minnie Mouse, Clarabelle Cow, Pete, and other characters will also enter the public domain in 2025. They include: The Barn Dance (1929), The Opry House (1929), When the Cat’s Away (1929), The Barnyard Battle (1929), The Plowboy (1929), Mickey’s Follies (1929), Mickey’s Choo-Choo (1929), The Jazz Fool (1929), Jungle Rhythm (1929), The Haunted House (1929), and Wild Waves (1929).
Should the United States government have extended copyright protections once again to protect Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters? Share your thoughts with Inside the Magic in the comments.
The post Say Goodbye: Disney To Lose Mickey Mouse in the Coming Days appeared first on Inside the Magic.
