Fans are asking if Disney’s iconic mascot Mickey Mouse is public domain and are also curious about the Steamboat Willie horror movie. Here is all you need to know about the current situation.
Is Mickey Mouse public domain?
Yes, Mickey Mouse is public domain. However, it is only the earliest rendition of the character, Steamboat Willie, that is public domain.
This means that anyone residing in the United States can use Steamboat Willie in any of their original creations without the threat of copyright infringement from Disney.
However, successive iterations of Mickey Mouse following the Steamboat Willie version that feature the character’s red shorts and big white gloves, are copyright-protected. This means that if any of the later versions of Mickey after Steamboat Willie are used in original work by anyone without Disney’s permission, then they will be infringing on the copyright.
However, fans must note that copyright laws vary by country so there is a high chance that Mickey is still fully copyright-protected in several countries.
What is the Steamboat Willie horror movie?
There are two Steamboat Willie horror movies in the works. One is Mickey’s Mouse Trap, a horror project by Jamie Bailey, and the other is an untitled horror movie project that will be helmed by Steven LaMorte and the producers of the 2022 horror slasher film Terrifier 2.
The teaser trailer for Mickey’s Mouse Trap arrived on January 2, 2024, and showed a tone akin to films like Five Nights at Freddy’s and classic horror films like Scream and Halloween. In this movie, Mickey Mouse is a mysterious serial killer who hunts down various youngsters who visit an amusement arcade.
As for the untitled Steamboat Willie horror movie project, LaMorte revealed in a statement to Deadline that the film will be a twisted and gory take on the character. LaMorte also stated that the film is his dream project and that the impetus behind it was his love for Steamboat Willie.
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