The 1928 cartoon short Steamboat Willie enters public domain. Not Mickey Mouse.

[Werewolf]

I've seen some confusion on this online.

Yes, the copyright on the 1928 The Steamboat Willie cartoon runs out in 2024. But that doesn't mean Mickey Mouse enters the public domain. Mickey Mouse is trademarked and that does not expire over time. Disney still owns Mickey Mouse.

[TheNewGiJoeWithKungFuGrip]

That's not how trademark works. Mickey Mouse the character, as he appears in Steamboat Willie, will become public domain in 2024. Subsequent versions will remain copyrighted and trademarked.

Now, Disney has Steamboat Willie footage incorporated into their animation studio's logo, which is trademarked, but since it's a derivative work of a soon to be public domain film, I don't think it would affect people's potential creative efforts. Disney's lawyers probably know there's going to be a deluge of Mickey Mouse content in the coming year, and I doubt they'll want to waste time and (much needed) money to sue each and every person for trademark infringement.

[Werewolf]

Mickey Mouse the character is still owned by Disney.

Now, someone could hypothetically make a cartoon derivative of Steamboat Willie using the design of the fairly generic looking nonverbal rat like Mickey and not get sued. But they cannot call the character Mickey Mouse or get anywhere near using a design or logo that comes remotely close to Disney's other copyrights or trademarks.

[TheNewGiJoeWithKungFuGrip]

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, 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.

This statement suggest Disney is okay with people using Mickey as long as they follow the rules. Because of their trademarks, they still have the exclusive right to use Mickey as a corporate mascot.

[Werewolf]

Disney owns the trademark to the name Mickey Mouse. Aswell as numerous trademarks and copyrights relating to various design aspects of Mickey Mouse. For example, a hypothetic cartoon mouse based on Steamboat Willie cannot be called Mickey Mouse or use any later design changes like larger ears, gloves or red shorts. Disney's Mickey Mouse ear logo is also trademarked.

Disney would also be well within their rights to claim any Steamboat Willie derivatives or merchandise cause brand confusion negatively affecting their trademarks and logos.

No doubt there will be some attention seeking grifters trying to make a name for themselves by trying to make a Steamboat Willie slasher movie or other adult versions. Again, Disney could and more than likely would claim that would be negativity causing brand confusion. Seriously, you don't want to mess with the Mouse's lawyers.

Realistically, I don't see anything changing other than the Steamboat Willie cartoon being included in those public domain cartoon DVD sets.

[Werewolf]

No doubt there will be some attention seeking grifters trying to make a name for themselves by trying to make a Steamboat Willie slasher movie or other adult versions.

Color me unsurprised some indie shovelware horror game is already trying to use a gory Steamboat Willie zombie Mickey. There have already been some fairly unpleasant Mickey parodies over the years and parody has always been protected. But using a design is that skirting close to modern Mickey for their shovelware product, that's pushing it. People don't seem impressed.

[sprytel]

Steve Shives (a Star Trek Youtuber I enjoy) has a good video on the items entering the public domain. He talks at length about the Steamboat Willie situation at the end of this video:

In reality, we don't entirely know how this would be settled legally... and Disney is doing everything they can to scare away those who might test it. This is essentially the same play that Edgar Rice Borroughs' estate and Arthur Conan Doyle's estate have used in the past, but obviously, Disney has way more resources to fight with.

[monitor_ep]

Somebody was waiting for this to happen: Micky Mouse Trap

It's Alex's 21st Birthday, but she's stuck at the amusement arcade on a late shift so her friends decide to surprise her, but a masked killer dressed as Mickey Mouse decides to play a game of his own with them which she must survive.

[monitor_ep]

Infestation: Origins

Nightmare Forge games has announced Infestation 88, a new horror game that aims to blend terror with nostalgia (in the vein of Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey) by twisting the now-in-the-public-domain Steamboat Willie into something much scarie

[Werewolf]

I purposely didn't link or name them to not give them any attention for this garbage. Oh, well, as you can see they are obviously begging for attention and a lawsuit.

Crap like this is really not doing public domain any favors.

[monitor_ep]

After watching the Pooh horror movie that was a terrible movie, I wasn't sure about the Micky version until I watched the trailer. It's just a murder wearing a Micky Mouse costume head. If filmed by a good horror director this could have done like Thanksgiving horror movie, but it was done by one of the T-N-A horror companies that just 'turn-n-burn" movies in hopes to get paid.

[Werewolf]

They want the attention and notoriety. The movie even purposely/stupidly uses Mickey Mouse's name in the title which is trademarked.

[sprytel]

They want the attention and notoriety. The movie even purposely/stupidly uses Mickey Mouse's name in the title which is trademarked.

"No, no, see it is 'Micky' not Mickey... and 'Mouse Trap' is a generic term... so we should be good."

It is like they got legal advice from their stoner friend.

[Werewolf]

"No, no, see it is 'Micky' not Mickey... and 'Mouse Trap' is a generic term... so we should be good."

It is like they got legal advice from their stoner friend.

Ha, yeah, that wouldn't fly in court. It's pretty much textbook purposeful brand confusion.

When public domain ends up getting extended another 100 years we will have these grifters to thank.

[jwyblejr]

It's funny. Nobody tried anything with Mickey from 'Plane Crazy.'