When will the copyright on Mickey Mouse end?

Not Mickey Mouse

The copyright on Mickey Mouse is a complex issue and has been subject to several changes over the years due to copyright extensions. As of 2021, the copyright on Mickey Mouse is set to expire in 2024, but this is subject to change due to possible further extensions of copyright law.

Mickey Mouse was first created in 1928, and the original copyright on the character was for 56 years. However, over the years, copyright law has been extended, and as a result, the copyright on Mickey Mouse has been extended multiple times.

The most recent extension to copyright law was the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act, which was signed into law in 1998. This Act extended the copyright term for works created after January 1, 1978, to the life of the author plus 70 years, or 95 years from the date of publication for works made for hire, whichever is shorter.

As Mickey Mouse was created in 1928, this means that the original copyright on the character has expired. However, due to the various copyright extensions, the copyright on Mickey Mouse has been extended multiple times, and it is currently set to expire in 2024.

It is worth noting that copyright law is a complex and evolving area, and the expiration date of Mickey Mouse's copyright could potentially change again in the future if further extensions are made to copyright law.

Source: Some or all of the content was generated using an AI language model