Early Version of Disney’s Mickey Mouse Will Soon Be Public Property

There is nothing soft and cuddly about the way Disney protects the characters it brings to life. For the first time, however, one of Disney’s marquee characters — Mickey himself — is set to enter the public domain. “Steamboat Willie,” the 1928 short film that introduced Mickey to the world, will lose copyright protection in the United States and a few other countries at the end of next year, prompting fans, copyright experts and potential Mickey grabbers to wonder: How is the notoriously litigious Disney going to respond?

Source: Early Version of Disney’s Mickey Mouse Will Soon Be Public Property

Get the latest RightsTech news and analysis delivered directly in your inbox every week
We respect your privacy.