In a historic turn of events, one of the most iconic characters in the world, Mickey Mouse, from the 1928 Disney cartoon Steamboat Willie, has now entered the public domain. This news opens up a world of possibilities for creative minds, who can now utilize the early versions of Mickey and his sidekick Minnie Mouse in their own imaginative creations.
However, there are some caveats to consider. While the early versions of Mickey Mouse are now available for public use, copyrightable features from later iterations of the character, still under copyright, cannot be used. This means that the beloved Sorcerer's Apprentice Mickey, among others, are off-limits for now. Additionally, Disney still holds trademarks for the image of Steamboat Willie as a logo.
