The first version of Mickey Mouse will enter the public domain on January 1, marking a significant moment in Disney history.
Mickey Mouse, the iconic fi – oh, don’t you need a refresher on who Mickey Mouse is? Well,the Disney mascot is about to enter the public domain…under certain specifications. In short, you won’t be seeing him and Goofy making their way through Disney World anytime soon…
Because U.S. copyright law states that a work can enter the public domain 95 years after its publication, a form of Mickey Mouse will be made available to everyone. This mainly concerns Steamboat Williewhich is generally considered the beginning of Mickey Mouse, although Crazy plane And The galloping gaucho were both produced before the historical short. As such, these films will also be in the public domain.
But the Mickey Mouse of Steamboat Willie is definitely not the same as the Mickey Mouse we all identify with. The 1928 version has more rat-like features, with an elongated nose, smaller eyes, and possibly some form of hantavirus. So this is the scariest one with which on January 1 you can do whatever you want.
But Steamboat Willie is not the only significant work entering the public domain when the clock strikes midnight. There too, there will be the film by Carl Theodor Dreyer The Passion of Joan of Arc and that of Charlie Chaplin The circuswhich of course opens the possibility of a Super Smash Bros.-confrontation between Mickey Mouse, Joan of Arc and The Little Tramp.
The Walt Disney Company has long been protective of Mickey Mouse, even force daycares to remove their beloved characters from the screen. Unfortunately for those looking to divert money away from the character — or, you know, just bring a little extra joy to kids’ days — this won’t be a watershed moment as it may seem at first. As a Disney spokesperson said, “More modern versions of Mickey will not be affected 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 stories, theme park attractions and merchandise… We will of course continue to protect our rights in the more modern versions of Mickey Mouse. and other works which remain subject to copyright.
The open use of intellectual properties peaked in pop culture last year when AA Milne’s first Winnie-the-Pooh book entered the public domain, launching a Rhys Frake-Waterfield horror film . And yes, he builds a whole cinematic universe around such properties.
Mickey Mouse has appeared in over 100 short films, most recently nominated for an Academy Award Get yourself a horse!which is heavily inspired by his first films.
