- At the beginning of the year, several creations have just entered the public domain, including the first Mickey Mouse movie, Steamboat Willie, created in 1928. However, the character of Mickey Mouse remains protected as a trademark, as only the copyright of the 1928 short film has expired.
The animated film Steambot Willie, Welcome to the Public Domain from the Wikimedia blog, Mickey Mouse, will also keep the Copyright license in some countries. Article 7.
The mouse that passes into the public domain, 95 years after its creation, is smaller and does not speak of the subsequent versions. From now on all those who wish to do so will be able to use the images of this short film, but it should be prudent, unless you want to have problems with Disney, the owner of the modern Mickey, as explained by journalist Hector Farrés at La Vanguardia. That is, as the Disney company warns, the new Mickey that can be created cannot look like modern Mickey (big gloves, red pants, shoes...). In this regard, the company has explained that it will fight against products that may cause confusion.
Steambot Willie (1928)