On January 1, the U.S. copyright on the 'Steamboat Willie' animated short expired, placing the early versions of Mickey Mouse into the public domain. This development has sparked a flurry of new projects, including two horror films, 'Mickey's Mouse Trap' and an untitled film by Steven LaMorte, as well as horror video games such as 'Infestation 88', which was renamed following controversy over its initial title. The rapid emergence of these projects, along with an explosion of AI-generated art and the release of NFTs based on 'Steamboat Willie', underscores the eagerness of independent creators to explore the character's new public domain status. Disney has noted that while these early depictions are no longer copyrighted, modern versions of Mickey Mouse remain protected.
Steamboat Willie Enters Public Domain https://t.co/9p1V57VW0S | by @caldwelllaw
The Filmmakers of MICKEY'S MOUSE TRAP Say “Who Doesn’t Want to See Mickey Mouse Killing People?” Link: https://t.co/iQktNAgry5 https://t.co/wZayaaO0NG
Well that settles it. According to @YouTube Steamboat Willie is not in the Public Domain https://t.co/KbECBME3TE
Adult Swim aired this last night with the original Mickey Mouse now in public domain. https://t.co/wdndEN9ief
Mickey Mouse is now in the public domain. 🥳 So what does that mean for our shared culture? Free-range archivist Jason Scott takes readers on an enlightening tour of copyright, the creative ecosystem & film preservation in a thoughtful new post ⤵️ https://t.co/WooYN6V6k0 https://t.co/uYU7EAPYu9
Disney's 'Steamboat Willie' YouTube copyright claim is back, this time for audio https://t.co/eMGvzoAqho
ICYMI: Now that the early version of Mickey Mouse from Steamboat Willie has entered the public domain, film studios are making horror movies about the iconic character, and Mickey’s Mouse Trap is the first one to release a trailer. https://t.co/k126bTC8w1
“This particular Mickey Mouse, from Steamboat Willie, is now in the public domain at a time when questions about what we can grab and use are up for debate. It’s an interesting confluence.” https://t.co/TVpXO2apxL
A little nostalgia. Steamboat Willie cartoon bringing back memories. Anyone read about Mickey Mouse hitting the public domain? #retro #vintage #nostalgia #60s #70s #cartoons #oldtimes https://t.co/7NecyICCQy
I wrote about “Steamboat Willie” and Disney’s wild history with copyright: ▫️The studio has made 50+ films based on public domain works ▫️On multiple occasions when Mickey Mouse was about to enter public domain, there was a new US copyright extension law https://t.co/zImtZ4Pmzl
The Disney copyright that expired this week only applies to Mickey Mouse as he first appeared: rat-like and mischievous, with pupil-less eyes and no gloves. https://t.co/ftDxYMCPCI
We brought this to you before it became a thing! 😅 After 95 years, the original Mickey Mouse Steamboat Willie version copyright has expired. We could now see this iteration of Mickey, even in memecoins !🔥 https://t.co/zkM1gCxV4R
The company tacitly acknowledges that 'Steamboat Willie' is in the public domain. https://t.co/YPxixUifSp
Mickey Mouse-themed horror film? Everything about ‘Mouse Trap’ movie, how they can use the icon’s image https://t.co/oTewsdOIC3
“Steamboat Willie,” the earliest version of Mickey Mouse, entered the public domain on Jan. 1, 2024. @eriqgardner explains why Disney doesn’t care and may even end up defending the public domain in court. https://t.co/PYSh2FESiw
The internet copyright machine wasn’t made for Mickey Mouse https://t.co/Eg8QXfcxdf
Thanks @karalangfk these are 🔥 #nft #mickey #SteamboatWillie https://t.co/V4M3OjpHtB https://t.co/bs8QdWUjoe
Following the buzz around Mickey Mouse & Steamboat Willie entering the public domain, we're thrilled to announce that we've unlocked the relevant works from 1928 on our site! 🎞️📚🎶 Explore our curated list now: https://t.co/0yJ59yZMwB https://t.co/rLO7VrBSpp
While everyone was giddy over Steamboat Willie Mickey Mouse went into Public Domain… . Oswald the Lucky Rabbit entered the Public Domain! As well as Peter Pan, the book & play version and song “Mack the Knife”! . A Public Service Announcement by Wolf Mike Mozart, Artist MiMo 🐺 https://t.co/TjnlegGvIV
Mickey's Mouse Trap is an upcoming comedy horror film about a masked killer dressed as Mickey Mouse. Check out the trailer here: https://t.co/pYFmjV1idX https://t.co/qupozg1mce
did someone say steamboat willie is public domain? https://t.co/lXiZ9Bl7pd
A one-off mistake or a sign of copyright battles to come over Mickey Mouse? https://t.co/7Zq3lSwl9C
Here's the lowdown on all the 'Mickey Mouse' horror movies (and games) that are coming READ MORE ➡️ https://t.co/q5wfvIk6Ln https://t.co/vytZpcwzzM
Early Mickey Mouse Character Tops OpenSea After Copyright Expiry. Read More > https://t.co/RhVdGuvcK2 @opensea @beeple #nftplazas #nftnews #nftcollectibles #mickeymouse https://t.co/RhVdGuvcK2
As of January 1, an early version of Mickey Mouse is in the public domain, @loracorkelley writes in the Atlantic Daily, marking "a major moment that Disney fought hard to postpone": https://t.co/l2lf4NP2li
The concept of Mickey Mouse becoming a killer is already a ridiculous premise, but it is not the only problem for the Steamboat Willie horror film. https://t.co/7j6FvT2KXI
One day after Steamboat Willie entered the public domain, a horror movie was announced that puts a scary twist on the classic Mickey Mouse short. https://t.co/bC722Oo7Wj
WATCH: Mickey Mouse has been reimagined as a serial killer in a new horror film 'Mickey's Mouse Trap,' after Disney’s copyright on the early version of the character expired https://t.co/36RPDCcTnN
#ICYMI: The earliest iteration of Mickey Mouse is on a rampage, barely three days in the public domain. https://t.co/FbHOlyGNpd
Mickey Mouse may have entered the public domain, but it is not as clear-cut as many have made it out to be. Here is what you need to know. https://t.co/hyirEALkDX
First Pooh, now Mickey. In the public domain, the early version of Mickey Mouse will star in horror movies (via AP) https://t.co/il8g7sKJFq
The earliest iteration of Mickey Mouse is on a rampage, after less than a week in the public domain. Slashed free of Disney’s copyright, the iconic character from “Steamboat Willie” is already the focus of two horror films. https://t.co/ZkifGpfSxs
Now that the early version of Mickey Mouse from Steamboat Willie has entered the public domain, film studios are making horror movies about the iconic character, and Mickey’s Mouse Trap is the first one to release a trailer. https://t.co/7Nt8gIRDW0
Steamboat Willie memes, movies, and video games have been flooding the web now that the mouse is in the public domain. But if it weren't for Disney's corporate greed, Mickey would have been granted his freedom decades ago. https://t.co/iQbK2hHv29
Mickey Mouse is now in the public domain https://t.co/99oj2MsEV0
Steamboat Willie is getting not one, but two horror adaptations https://t.co/0yy3iujNKC
#SteamboatWillie is public domain now ✨ #art #mickeymouse https://t.co/AVmRtFtVKm
‘Steamboat Willie’ horror game creators change name after ‘Infestation 88’ link to neo-Nazi hate https://t.co/PAxpPJBrUs
Early Mickey Mouse to star in at least two horror flicks, now that Disney copyright is over https://t.co/UlmXqG0IJL
Mickey Mouse Already Has a Horror Game on First Day in the Public Domain https://t.co/BBZCsCUPDJ
Two horror films and a video game featuring Mickey Mouse were announced just hours after Disney's earliest versions of the cartoon character entered the public domain in the US Read more 🔗 https://t.co/Et5b6v8RM6
Mickey Mouse-Inspired Horror Game 'Infestation 88' Announced https://t.co/y25QRtJdxo https://t.co/oEWE7ZjzAk
The Mouse That Rampaged: What Happened Since The Original Mickey Lost His Copyright https://t.co/yo7WFvneZ8
Slashed free of Disney's copyright as of Monday, the iconic character from “Steamboat Willie” is already the focus of two horror films. https://t.co/7kfH3TrRLh
Someone is already making a horror game based on Steamboat Willie Mickey Mouse. https://t.co/RN8H2mNkxd https://t.co/HHHf2S6aCL
The Vanishing of S.S. Willie horror short film takes advantage of Mickey Mouse’s public domain status https://t.co/jkwiiW5Gfc https://t.co/DDGgr2bA5i
Mickey Mouse horror films and video game announced - just hours after copyright expired Read more 🔗 https://t.co/zQgUIPRwTw
This Mickey Mouse is now in the public domain and free to use! https://t.co/JRQJCBlQ1p https://t.co/Nc8wsn2n7V
Mickey’s Mouse Trap: Public domain release gives icon first horror movie https://t.co/GSzR0SYaSn https://t.co/kZQp8ZZWwa
January 2024 marks the official expiration on the copyright of Steamboat Willie, the groundbreaking cartoon short film by Disney. So Mickey Mouse is now officially in the public domain! Or the Steamboat Willie version of Mickey anyway. Our daily curation features both pieces… https://t.co/FTDn7COdwV
Early Mickey Mouse to star in at least 2 horror flicks, now that Disney copyright is over. https://t.co/96qVATioih
"...a bold and inevitable move..." Mickey Mouse being in the public domain inspires new horror-comedy-thriller Mickey's Mouse Trap. https://t.co/SrRFg0ZPm3 #SupportIndieFilm #MickeysMouseTrap #MickeyMouse https://t.co/qrpSeGaQGa
The Steamboat Willie version of Disney icon Mickey Mouse just entered the public domain, and there's already an explosion of AI-generated art. We talked to some of the creators behind it. https://t.co/rHuwDDoPdJ
Nightmare Forge has changed the title of the game 'Infestation 88,' which appropriates a public-domain version of Mickey Mouse, after allegations of coded hate symbols. More: https://t.co/FkIJx7l9Sn https://t.co/uSQQLhvydW
Slashed free of #Disney's copyright, the iconic Mickey Mouse from “Steamboat Willie” is already the focus of two horror films. Just hours after the 1928 short entered the public domain, a trailer for “Mickey's Mouse Trap” dropped on YouTube. https://t.co/G5v25tZAtb
Mickey Mouse has been reimagined as a serial killer in a new horror film 'Mickey's Mouse Trap,' after Disney’s copyright on the early version of the character expired https://t.co/FGJEy30TPX
As the copyright limit begins to expire for works created in the late 1920s, the public domain is starting to receive not only works of literature, art or music, but video, too—including the first film featuring Mickey Mouse https://t.co/5DdknFbpmx 👇
First Pooh, now Mickey. In the public domain, the early version of Mickey Mouse will star in horror movies https://t.co/4JdSky9hC2
Steamboat Willie's #Mickey Mouse Goes #Meme Coin After Entering Public Domain #crypto https://t.co/EUASXyspJz
Mickey Mouse Must Be Exterminated In New Horror Game Infestation 88 https://t.co/ceVTrpfw7y https://t.co/S1Ya6xuvGB
WATCH: A trailer for a new horror film, 'Mickey's Mouse Trap,’ was released a day after Disney's early Mickey Mouse animation entered the public domain as the copyright expired https://t.co/TyeO3a6O2P
A trailer for a new horror film, 'Mickey's Mouse Trap,’ was released a day after Disney's early Mickey Mouse animation entered the public domain as the copyright expired https://t.co/WtsRLIlznR
Two horror projects featuring the original Steamboat Willie version of Mickey Mouse were revealed on Monday as Disney's copyright on that version of the character expired. https://t.co/cAMwJUfOmG
Steamboat Willie is transformed into a much edgier version of Mickey Mouse in new art, just after the character has entered the public domain. https://t.co/cagZEs3BFZ
Screamboat Willie? Mickey Mouse horror films lurk as cartoon enters public domain https://t.co/o3XOOeuZ9y
NEW: The earliest iteration of Mickey Mouse is on a rampage, barely two days in the public domain. Slashed free of Disney's copyright as of Monday, the iconic character is already the focus of two horror films: https://t.co/O2cv5ms3yR
Mickey Mouse slasher trailer airs after Disney copyright expires https://t.co/raVGjNLoXH
The earliest iteration of Mickey Mouse is on a rampage, barely two days in the public domain. https://t.co/jtgtlukHxX
Steven LaMorte Set to Direct a Terrifying Movie Based on STEAMBOAT WILLIE Cartoon Link: https://t.co/2618g0iKTS #MickeyMouse #MovieNews #SteamboatWillie #StevenLaMorte https://t.co/6dCtNH4eNi
Mickey Mouse's appearance in Steamboat Willie isn't the only major character to lose copyright in the 2020s, with many famous examples soon to follow. https://t.co/T4YJgyKtTn
Everything entering the public domain this year besides Steamboat Willie https://t.co/WR7j3zKStN https://t.co/2Evn0sDK3d
Hooray! Steamboat Willie is in the public domain. But remember: Other versions of Mickey are protected and Mickey is trademarked by Disney as a mascot. So while every feature of a character can't be copyrighted. I'll bet the "ears" will be defended. #TheMoreYouKnow🏳️🌈📷✨ https://t.co/816EvSnrZB
Yes; Steamboat Willie is the public domain. But later versions of Mickey remain protected. And Mickey is still trademarked by Disney as a mascot. So while every feature of a character can't be copyrighted. I'll bet the "ears" will be fiercely defended. #TheMoreYouKnow🏳️🌈✨ https://t.co/rGZ7OGamAU
Steamboat Willie is now in the public domain and a #MickeyMouse horror film has already been announced. 🐭 The plot will follow a sadistic mouse who tortures ferry passengers, "...beneath that cheerful exterior lies a potential for pure, unhinged terror." https://t.co/a3YM0mOlEl https://t.co/szUxaUN5vP
The Mickey Mouse US copyright has expired and this character is now in the public domain. https://t.co/taIWqyslN7
Disney finally relinquishes 'Steamboat' Mickey Mouse to public domain after testy 95 years https://t.co/6eXSXzBomB
Taking the Mickey: A treasure trove of Hollywood intellectual property is heading for the public domain https://t.co/Mwi2LTbAZg 👇
Welcome To The Public Domain, Mickey Mouse https://t.co/6iYRjvhYjv https://t.co/Qrv2r831Af
Mickey Mouse will appear in new, non-Disney creative works after 95 years of copyright protection of the character expired on Jan. 1. https://t.co/5uJ6j7po6s
A horror game featuring a murderous Mickey Mouse and an independent British slasher film starring a person in a Mickey costume are among the first projects featuring the Disney character, after copyright for the character’s original version expired Monday. https://t.co/a2E4r8yhTw https://t.co/bfoB9UJAyj
First Pooh, now Mickey. In public domain, early Mickey Mouse version will star in horror movies https://t.co/tUYHZ5Hhy3
The "Steamboat Willie" version of Disney icon Mickey Mouse just entered the public domain, and there's already an explosion of related AI-generated art. We talked to some of the creators behind it. https://t.co/yZ5OnZel6f
Steamboat Willie copyright expires, Mickey Mouse slasher film already announced. https://t.co/GKrd21TJsK Click the image to read more:
Mickey Mouse Has Been Public Domain for a Day and We've Already Got 3 Gory Slasher Projects About Him https://t.co/RKOmjVXLYP https://t.co/Hda4dSjlas
Mickey Mouse is now in the public domain after 95 years of Disney copyright https://t.co/OfuxNEI0xg https://t.co/ZS6p1zWL7C
‘Steamboat Willie’ copyright expires as filmmakers eye new Mickey Mouse tales https://t.co/GGNfLg1L7h
Infestation 88, the newly-announced horror game based on Steamboat Willie, is sparking controversy over its name and use of AI voiceovers, leading Nightmare Forge Games to respond. https://t.co/6cPscEBCnI https://t.co/UUvuFPP7Fe
Yup, there's already three Mickey Mouse-based horror projects after the 'Steamboat Willie' version of the Disney icon hit the public domain including, 'Mickey’s Mouse Trap' and 'Infestation 88' READ MORE ➡️ https://t.co/XuUhRKjtyl https://t.co/unJOB0eqTC
Here come the Mickey Mouse horror games. https://t.co/rDKhSJr7Ct
The Mickey Mouse horror game Infestation 88 has changed its title following outcry about a Neo-Nazi reference in the title. Read more here: https://t.co/pbaLhKuz8P
Sniping is still well and alive in the NFT space 🎯 How's this: waiting for the second a 95-year-old copyright expires to release Mickey Mouse NFTs. Based on the 1928 short film 'Steamboat Willie,' early depictions of the Disney Mascot are now public domain... Read more ⤵️
Steamboat Willie's #Mickey Mouse Goes #NFT After Entering Public Domain #crypto https://t.co/EUASXyspJz
Barely 24 hours after Disney's initial copyright on Mickey Mouse expired, two new indie horror films starring the beloved character have been announced ⬇️ https://t.co/1tVq9fjEXW
While STEAMBOAT WILLIE is getting all the attention, did you know that 2 earlier films featuring Mickey Mouse also became public domain on Jan 1? PLANE CRAZY (1928), directed by Walt Disney & Ub Iwerks, features the first appearance of Mickey & Minnie https://t.co/vnNAPg2rF4 🧵 https://t.co/mRvXbCMDBn
Mickey Mouse becomes horror’s newest villain https://t.co/7W8NRcf0OM
Mickey Mouse Is Now in the Public Domain After 95 Years of Disney Copyright https://t.co/5u3tV3C4gJ
⬇️⬇️⬇️ Mickey Mouse Is Terrifying in Teaser for Horror Movie as Character Hits Public Domain https://t.co/iLY4lfMDcE
Steamboat Willie is getting a murderous makeover in a new horror movie based on the classic 1928 animated short featuring Mickey Mouse. https://t.co/EEA93OB9gs https://t.co/eN7Pvm89rT
Mickey Mouse is teased as a ruthless murderer just one day after entering the public domain https://t.co/VI7zkY1mLH https://t.co/VMporwjV0H
After years of legal battles, “Steamboat Willie” is now public domain. Read more: https://t.co/pXRfOI60p3 https://t.co/DJXVU5upKl
The original black-and-white renditions of Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Tigger are now public domain. https://t.co/Q5HVLgmVY9
Starting Jan 1. The original black-and-white renditions of Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Tigger are now public domain. https://t.co/SEAE2D7sXG
Disney's earliest Mickey and Minnie Mouse short film enters the public domain after its U.S. copyright expires. But Disney warns that the more modern versions of Mickey are still protected. https://t.co/55D7R8Wpdx https://t.co/DC52hUzQn4
The trailer for a horror comedy film featuring a killer Mickey Mouse was dropped just as Disney‘s 1928 short Steamboat Willie entered the public domain #THRNews https://t.co/ubRbOHxJnV
Disney should make a horror movie through 20th about what happens to a filmmaker who makes a horror movie using Steamboat Willie in the public domain
Mickey Mouse from 1928's 'Steamboat Willie' is now public domain https://t.co/Sq50leeL1l
Mickey Mouse killer film previewed same day copyright expired https://t.co/BqMgHHllVI
Forget one killer #MickeyMouse movie, there are currently multiple #SteamboatWillie-inspired horror films and video games in the works. Join us as we break them down: https://t.co/Qp3EvXBzHc
Oh this is going to be good. Disney lost its copyright for the original "Mickey Mouse" trademark and 24 hours later there's already a horror video game being made. Get ready chaos. https://t.co/cGzrUYcszq
The Steamboat Willie version of Mickey Mouse has hit the public domain, so here come the horror movie adaptations... See more on the news here: https://t.co/LgakuOCaLe https://t.co/yNxG5x048R
The trailer for a horror film featuring a killer dressed as Mickey Mouse has been released after Disney’s earliest versions of the cartoon character entered the public domain in the US ✍: @Hello_Hannah0 https://t.co/GM1j3Gf4T4
The “Steamboat Willie” version of Mickey Mouse, and thousands of other copyrighted works published in 1928, entered the public domain on Jan. 1. Now those characters and stories can be remade — on the page, stage or screen — without permission. https://t.co/kfdUf2yi2o
Early Mickey Mouse is now in the public domain—and AI is already on the case https://t.co/VS0n0xAGua
Why the iconic Micky Mouse 'Steamboat Willie' cartoon is getting a horror film, explained https://t.co/1USuObAixP https://t.co/scVLadjT9m
Happy Mickey Mouse Public Domain Day! Well, a version of Mickey, that is. https://t.co/AUeOHk9018
Multiple horror projects starring the earliest version of Disney's signature mouse, Steamboat Willie, are in the works now that the original Mickey Mouse has entered the public domain. Click the image to read more: https://t.co/b7EOhdpHEd
Disney's Earliest Version of Mickey Mouse, Steamboat Willie, Is Now in the Public Domain. Here's What That Means. https://t.co/Lh6cUsHATl
happy public domain day, mickey mouse https://t.co/CXAgXWqv1o
Public Domain Mickey Mouse is the first meme of 2024 https://t.co/pXRfOI60p3
'Mickey's Mouse Trap' is the newest movie to turn a beloved cartoon character into a cold-blooded killing machine. https://t.co/Il8LLqUIhU
Projects that have been announced after the early version of Mickey Mouse entered the public domain: • MICKEY'S MOUSE TRAP (horror film) • Untitled film from Steven LaMorte (horror film) • Infestation 88 (horror game) https://t.co/3y6bbOMF9g
Mickey Mouse ‘Steamboat Willie’ is now public domain! https://t.co/KEpV3QnBzS
A second, as-yet-untitled horror film centered on Steamboat Willie, the earliest iteration of Disney’s beloved children’s character Mickey Mouse, is in the works from director-producer Steven LaMorte and the producers of Terrifier 2, the team announced on Tuesday… https://t.co/gY9atUf8i9
Projects that have been announced after the early version of Mickey Mouse entered the public domain: • MICKEY'S MOUSE TRAP (horror film) • Steamboat Willie (horror film) • Infestation 88 (horror game) https://t.co/jKOtkNW6vT
A Mickey Mouse-inspired horror game was one of the first things to go viral after the character entered the public domain. Devs told us it uses purchased assets, AI voices, and denied a bunch of obvious Nazi references as accidental: https://t.co/Y7gsQ4fJpj
The trailer for an unhinged new Mickey Mouse horror film, titled 'Mickey's Mouse Trap,' just dropped after 'Steamboat Willie' entered the public domain. https://t.co/WYRTpoVLuz
Mickey Mouse Gets Horror Film Makeover, Character Now in Public Domain | Click to read more 👇 https://t.co/x5EYM6SapY
The original Mickey Mouse is now public domain – and the horror movies are already on their way https://t.co/qFzG4drBMF
Mickey Mouse is on a murderous rampage in the first trailer for the horror slasher, Mickey's Mouse Trap 🔪 https://t.co/yqJid0mXiM
Mickey Mouse's copyright ran out yesterday, and is now in the public domain. Within 24 hours, these makers have created a horror game called Mouse. Steamboat Willie turns into a gangster in this first-person shooter. Not sure it's exactly what Disney had in mind for the mouse... https://t.co/kAnMVTFcWC
At the start of the new year, the copyright expired on Walt Disney’s ‘Steamboat Willie’ animated short featuring Mickey Mouse, and already there’s a trailer for a horror film that asks ‘What if Mickey Mouse was really f*cked up and killed people?’ https://t.co/qF0DQHvgl8
Trailer for the Mickey Mouse Slasher Horror Film MICKEY'S MOUSE TRAP Link: https://t.co/UKHPJ2aGRU https://t.co/rSeGIxUzC9
Mickey Mouse’s first 24 hours in the public domain: slasher flicks, horror games and NFTs https://t.co/DamIerx7fv
With early version of Mickey Mouse entering public domain, worth re-upping this critical piece on weaponizing copyright law Drain the Disney Copyright Swamp and Make the Public Domain Great Again https://t.co/rIUwfpwIbX
It took barely 12 hours for the first Mickey Mouse games to appear after the Disney mascot entered the public domain https://t.co/SZnENwibSA
A new trailer has been revealed for a Mickey Mouse based slasher horror film, just one day after Steamboat Willie entered the public domain. https://t.co/eGMXWzoIKr
😱Steamboat Willie slasher, "Mickey's Mouse Trap" teaser https://t.co/3pwCD8fZEz
"Steamboat Willie" has been public domain for two days but we already have a Mickey horror flick and a shooter game 😂 https://t.co/yqkoLhpjfA https://t.co/yqkoLhpjfA
Serial killer Mickey Mouse film trailer drops same day US copyright of cartoon character expires https://t.co/xJm1Bvz6NE https://t.co/rdZx2QqAED