On the 1st of January, Disney’s copyright over their most iconic character expired. After almost a century, the original version of Mickey Mouse is in the public domain, and of course, people are beside themselves with excitement. Why? Because anyone can now use and remake those characters and stories without permission. Is it that simple, though? And what about the trademark rights? Let’s dive deeper into this topic together! In the feature image above, you see a still from “Steamboat Willie”, a short film that was released in 1928 and featured the silent characters of Mickey and Minnie for the first time. That was also the launching base for Disney’s success, which continues to grow more and more. In 2024, these versions of beloved cartoon mice – along with thousands of other works published in 1928 – entered the United States public domain after their 95-year term had expired. This means we can indeed use them in our films now, but there are some important things to consider. What happened, in a nutshell? First, why do we have copyright laws in the first place? Naturally, they let artists explore and create without fearing that someone might steal their artwork. It also preserves their rights, so that in the end, they get paid for what they do. At the same time, each copyright has a designated coverage period. Once this period ends, the works can enter the public domain. That’s also a vital part of our cultural evolution, allowing us to...
Published By: CineD - Friday, 5 January, 2024