The earliest known version of Disney’s Mickey Mouse entered the public domain on Jan. 1, nearly 100 years after the iconic character first appeared in the 1928 short film Steamboat Willie. Under U.S.

Mickey Mouse has landed a new role: horror-movie villain. At least two films starring an early version of the Walt Disney Company’s famous mascot were announced this week as the copyright for Disney’s ...

Mickey Mouse has entered the public domain — or at least his original version has. The cartoon mouse first appeared in Steamboat Willie in 1928, which means it entered the public domain in 2024. And, ...

Mickey Mouse might seem the most unlikely character to ensnare viewers in a horror flick, but an expiration in copyright protection means an early version of the Disney mascot will stalk film screens.

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