Copyright for the cartoon, released by Walt Disney in 1928, is now in the public domain, 95 years later. There are now at least two horror movies starring Mickey Mouse himself.
Mickey Mouse is an animated film created by Walt Disney in October 1928, and this week, after 95 years of its existence, it entered the public domain, as required by American law.
Also this week, at least two films were announced, both horror and developed by other producers, in which the cartoon itself is the protagonist.
After debuting in a black-and-white animated film, Steamboat Willie, the project synchronized the sound of movements with music and sound effects and marked decades of history in animated cinema for younger audiences. Over the course of 95 years, many versions have been made, and now any cartoonists or film producers can use the first versions of Mickey and Minnie.
Copyright legislation in North America states that after 95 years of licensing, rights pass into the public domain. This means that anyone can benefit from the content in question. We must remember that the same thing happened about a year ago with another popular cartoon, in this case Winnie the Pooh.
Salman Rushdie is a journalist and feature writer specialising in culture, politics, literature, and international affairs. He focuses on delivering clear, informative reporting that helps readers understand the people, events, and trends influencing today’s world.
