World's first Mickey Mouse character becomes copyright free! Disney loses intellectual property rights as the character enters public domain
![World's first Mickey Mouse character becomes copyright free! Disney loses intellectual property rights as the character enters public domain](https://akm-img-a-in.tosshub.com/sites/visualstory/wp/2024/01/Screenshot-2024-01-02-at-11.19.02-AM.png?size=*:900)
The very first iteration of Mickey Mouse, featured in Disney
The very first iteration of Mickey Mouse, featured in Disney's 1928 film 'Steamboat Willie,' officially entered the public domain due to the expiration of the 95-year copyright limit.
![](https://akm-img-a-in.tosshub.com/sites/visualstory/wp/2024/01/Screenshot-2024-01-02-at-11.19.02-AM.png?size=*:900)
World's first Mickey Mouse character becomes copyright free! Disney loses intellectual property rights as the character enters public domain
![](https://static.dw.com/image/17695288_702.jpg)
Original Mickey copyright to expire soon – DW – 07/15/2022
![](https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/pmn/5SQ6CMYA6RAUXPGEFSZN3JFQHQ.jpg)
Mickey Mouse to enter public domain on Jan. 1, 2024
![](https://www.disneydining.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Adobe_Express_20230406_1749320_1.png)
Disney Won't Lose Rights to Mickey-- Iconic Mouse is Safe
Why Mickey Mouse entering the public domain in 2024 is more complicated than you think - Yahoo Sports
![](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/12/21/multimedia/00MickeyMouse-03-1-be78/00MickeyMouse-03-1-be78-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale)
Early Version of Disney's Mickey Mouse Will Soon Be Public Property - The New York Times
![](https://m.economictimes.com/thumb/msid-105999138,width-1200,height-900,resizemode-4,imgsize-940120/the-earliest-version-of-mickey-mouse-debuting-in-the-1928-short-film-steamboat-willie-is-set-to-enter-the-public-domain-in-2024-.jpg)
Mickey Mouse version: First iteration of Mickey Mouse to enter public domain in 2024, along with other iconic Disney characters - The Economic Times
![](https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/steamboat-willie-2024.jpg)
Mickey Mouse Hits Public Domain With Disney's 'Steamboat Willie
![](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5d78a24/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3248x1705+0+230/resize/1200x630!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F29%2Ffb%2Fb56227934d66aa69765943e2bbc0%2Fap23328172877593.jpg)
Earliest version of Mickey Mouse set to become public domain in 2024
![](https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2023/12/26/gettyimages-1505222282_wide-48ca529a3c988878f77d458e124677be2e204f11-s1400-c100.jpg)
Mickey Mouse's first film appearance enters public domain in 2024 : NPR
![](https://wchstv.com/resources/media/50a16917-3e8f-46e5-be06-55101eefdb38-full16x9_GettyImages1226596746.jpg)
Mickey Mouse will soon belong to you and me — with some caveats
![](https://cdn.rep-am.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/20231214-154059-pic-274663818.jpg)
Early version of Mickey Mouse to enter public domain
Disney About to Lose Mickey Mouse Copyright Control After Decades of Lobbying
![](https://web.law.duke.edu/sites/default/files/images/centers/cspd/pdd2024/mickey/Mickey-logos1.png)
Mickey, Disney, and the Public Domain: a 95-year Love Triangle