Mickey Mouse’s first public appearance was in the 1928 black-and-white short film Steamboat Willie.
Next Monday, January 1st, the copyright on Walt Disney’s most famous creation will expire, and from then on the mischievous mouse will enter the public domain. Something like that. For now, only this rudimentary version of what will become the Mickey we know can be used.
The chubby little mouse with the cute eyes, red shorts and white gloves he turned into is still owned by Disney.
Additionally, Mickey Mouse is a registered trademark, meaning that “anyone using the classic image of Mickey at the helm of a boat on T-shirts, caps or mugs risks prosecution,” warns law professor Justin Hughes, as quoted by France Press. . It will be possible to recreate the character and story, but the consumer must be informed that this is not the creation of the original author. “Legal battles are expected,” says Hughes.
Author: Ana Maria Ribeiro
Source: CM Jornal
I’m Dave Martin, and I’m an experienced journalist working in the news industry. As a part of my work, I write for 24 News Reporters, covering mostly sports-related topics. With more than 5 years of experience as a journalist, I have written numerous articles on various topics to provide accurate information to readers.