12.14.2023

Mouse escapes (sort of)

Mickey Mouse will soon belong to you and me — with some caveats

The copyright on Mickey Mouse — the original "mischievous, rat-like, non-speaking boat captain" version of the famous rodent, at least – will expire on the last day of this year and the critter will enter the public domain. It's been 95 years since Mickey's first appearance in the short film, "Steamboat Willie."

More modern versions of the character will remain under Disney's control.

Other well-known works due to enter the U.S. public domain in 2024 are a Virginia Woolf novel named "Orlando," a film featuring Charlie Chaplin called "Circus," and "The Threepenny Opera," a musical play by Bertolt Brecht.


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