Disney to Lose 95-year Copyright over Mickey Mouse in 2024

Disney might lose exclusive rights to long-time mascot Mickey Mouse and many more of its beloved characters in 2024.

Mickey, which is the cheerful face of Disney, is set to end after 95 years and enter the public domain.

Mickey will join a long list of characters that have entered the public domain, including Frankenstein, Sherlock Holmes, Robin Hood, and Dracula.

Mickey debuted in the black and white film ‘Steamboat Willie’ in 1928.

Meanwhile, people can create their own stories with the original Mickey Mouse character. Disney holds the character trademarks for a variety of commercial uses. And while copyright is time-limited, trademarks are not.

"In the case of Mickey Mouse, for example, not only the name but also several drawings are registered trademarks,” writes Martin Senftleben in his 2020 book ‘The Copyright/Trademark Interface’.

"The combination of copyright and trademark claims has become a standard protection strategy in the field of contemporary cultural symbols,” Senftleben adds, “the coexisting trademark protection will be felt, however, once copyright expires.”