The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) has lost copyright protection of the earliest version of one of its most iconic characters: Mickey Mouse himself.
After his debut in the short film “Steamboat Willie” 95 years ago in 1928, Mickey and also Minnie Mouse entered the public domain in the United States on January 1.
This means that creators can rework and use these images of Mickey and Minnie without requiring Disney’s permission for free.
More modern images of Mickey and Minnie remain protected by copyright.
Film and game makers wasted no time in using the earliest images of the iconic mouse in their products.
On January 1, a trailer for a new slasher film called “Mickey’s Mouse Trap” featuring a killer dressed as Mickey Mouse was released.
The film, which is not affiliated with Disney but comes from creator Simon Phillips, is expected to be released in March.
A new Mickey-inspired horror video game by Nightmare Forge Games called Infestation 88 also dropped on January 1.