On January 1, 2024, after almost a century of copyright protection, Mickey Mouse, or at least a version of Mickey Mouse, will enter the public domain. The first movies in which the iconic mouse appeared – Steamboat Willie and the silent version of Plane Crazy – were made in 1928 and works from that year go into the public domain on New Year’s Day 2024.

It means that anyone can share, adapt, or remix the original versions of Mickey Mouse from 1928.
However, it is not allowed to confuse consumers into thinking that the creation is produced or sponsored by Disney. It is also not allowed to use the newer iterations of Mickey such as the “Sorcerer’s Apprentice” Mickey from Fantasia (1940).

In 2024 Mickey Mouse joins a host of other familiar public domain characters—Winnie the Pooh, Sherlock Holmes, Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, Robin Hood, Snow White, Cinderella, and Alice in Wonderland.
On the other hand, Disney still retains the owner of trademarks with mouse’s image and of verbal trademarks “Mickey Mouse”. Therefore, it will not be possible to use the image of Mickey on goods or for the provision of services.