Mickey Mouse is an iconic animated character created by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. He made his debut in the animated short film "Steamboat Willie" on November 18, 1928. Since then, Mickey Mouse has become the official mascot of The Walt Disney Company and a beloved symbol of popular culture worldwide.
In the United States, copyright law grants creators exclusive rights to their works for a limited time. The duration of copyright protection has been extended multiple times over the years, largely due to lobbying efforts from content creators and companies to protect their intellectual property. As a result, many of Disney's early animated works, including Mickey Mouse cartoons, are still under copyright protection.
Copyright law in the United States protected Mickey Mouse and other early Disney characters until the year 2023. This is due to the Copyright Term Extension Act, commonly known as the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act, which was passed in 1998. The act extended copyright terms for both existing and future works, effectively preventing characters like Mickey Mouse from entering the public domain for an extended period.
However, copyright laws can be complex and subject to change based on legal developments and legislation. As such, I recommend checking the most recent information to determine the current status of Mickey Mouse's copyright and whether there have been any updates or changes in the law that could affect his copyright status.
"Steamboat Willie" entered the public domain in the United States in 2024. The film was first released on November 18, 1928, and its copyright protection has been extended multiple times over the years, mainly due to changes in copyright laws.
Under the Copyright Term Extension Act (also known as the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act) passed in 1998, copyright terms were extended, preventing certain works from entering the public domain for a more extended period. Prior to this act, works from 1923 and earlier had already entered the public domain.
The Copyright Term Extension Act added an additional 20 years of copyright protection to existing works, including "Steamboat Willie." As a result, the copyright for "Steamboat Willie" was extended to 95 years from its initial release date.
Since "Steamboat Willie" was released in 1928, the 95-year term expired in 2023. After that, the film has entered the public domain in the United States in 2024. Once in the public domain, the film will be free for public use and distribution without infringing on any copyright restrictions.
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