In Graphics | Why Mickey Mouse belongs to all of us

Mickey Mouse is now in the public domain. Disney's copyright on the earliest versions of the beloved cartoon character ended in the United States on 1 January 2024.

The first version of Mickey Mouse seen in the 1928 cartoon short film Steamboat Willie has now entered the public domain. This means that now anyone in the US can use this version of the iconic cartoon character without fear of copyright infringement.

However, Mickey Mouse is still a registered Disney trademark, meaning there are still limits on how the public can use the cartoon’s images. Disney also has a copyright over the modern versions of Mickey. There are also other works, including Virginia Woolf’s Orlando and DH Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover, whose copyright protections have lapsed in the US.

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Let’s take a look through graphics at how Mickey Mouse came to be in the public domain in 2024.