Can I use Steamboat Willie now?

Is Tom and Jerry public domain?

No, classic Tom and Jerry cartoons are not currently in the public domain in the U.S.; they are owned by Warner Bros. and their copyright generally lasts 95 years from publication for studio works like these. While the very first cartoon featuring the characters (originally Jasper & Jinx) enters the public domain around 2036-2037, the core, well-known Tom and Jerry shorts remain protected, with newer iterations protected even longer, meaning you can't freely use them yet.
 

Which Mickey is copyright free?

The Steamboat Willie version of Mickey Mouse, the black-and-white, glove-less, early design from the 1928 short film, entered the public domain in the U.S. on January 1, 2024, meaning it can be used freely, but later, more familiar colorful versions remain protected by copyright and trademark, so creators must stick to this specific early design and avoid confusion with modern Mickey.
 

What does "public domain" actually mean?

Materials that are in the "public domain" are works that are not protected by any kind of intellectual property laws, including copyright. Anyone may use public domain works without seeking permission from or compensating the copyright holder, including for commercial purposes.

How to use Mickey Mouse legally?

For example, artists who want to use Mickey Mouse in their creative works must first get permission from Disney (the current copyright holder) until November 2023. After that date, the copyright will expire, Mickey Mouse will enter the public domain, and artists will not need Disney's permission to use Mickey Mouse.

What Disney characters are copyright free?

Disney characters entering public domain are typically early versions based on older stories or specific short films, like Steamboat Willie Mickey & Minnie (1928), alongside figures from classic tales such as Snow White, Cinderella, Pinocchio, and Peter Pan, while modern versions and characters like Donald Duck, Goofy, and newer Mickey designs are still protected by copyright and trademark. The key is the specific version of the character, as Disney's versions often built on existing public domain sources but added new elements that remain copyrighted.
 

What is the 75 year copyright rule?

Copyright Act of 1976

Life of the author, plus 50 years (generally) 75 years from date of publication or 120 years from date of creation (anonymous works, pseudonymous works, and works made for hire)

Is Disney losing rights to Winnie the Pooh?

Milne's U.S. copyright on the Winnie-the-Pooh character expired on 1 January 2022, as it had been 95 years since publication of the first story. The character has thus entered the public domain in the United States and Disney no longer holds exclusive rights there.

Can Disney reclaim Steamboat Willie?

The Steamboat Willie copyright expires in 2024. But Disney still retains trademark rights to use images of Mickey as well as the words “Mickey Mouse” in connection with a variety of products.

What Disney characters are public domain in 2025?

In 2025 copyright expires over more aspects of Mickey from his 1929 incarnations, along with the initial versions of Popeye and Tintin. As with Pooh and Mickey, it is the original versions of Popeye and Tintin that are public domain.

Do I own Steamboat Willie?

Not affecting trademark status, Steamboat Willie entered the U.S public domain on January 1, 2024, more than 95 years after its release.

What is the 3 month rule for copyright?

The "copyright 3 month rule" refers to a key deadline for U.S. copyright registration: you must register your work within three months of its first publication (or before infringement begins) to be eligible to claim statutory damages and attorney's fees in a copyright infringement lawsuit, which can be crucial for remedies beyond just an injunction. Failing to meet this deadline means you generally can only sue for actual damages (harder to prove) if infringement occurs, but registration is still vital for other benefits and to sue at all, notes Donahue Fitzgerald LLP and Cotman IP. 

What will enter the public domain in 2026?

In 2026, works from 1930 entered the U.S. public domain, including classic books like William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying, Agatha Christie's Murder at the Vicarage, and the first four Nancy Drew novels, Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon, and literary hits like The Little Engine That Could; films such as the Marx Brothers' Animal Crackers and All Quiet on the Western Front; early characters like the first version of Betty Boop (from Dizzy Dishes) and Disney's "Rover" (later Pluto); iconic songs including "Georgia on My Mind," "Dream a Little Dream of Me," and Gershwin tunes like "I Got Rhythm"; and art by Mondrian and the original FIFA World Cup trophy.
 

Are any Frank Sinatra songs public domain?

No, Frank Sinatra's popular recordings are generally not in the public domain in the U.S. due to modern copyright laws, though some of his earliest band recordings might be in public domain in certain countries, and the underlying songs (sheet music) themselves could be public domain if published before 1929. His major recordings, especially from his Capitol and Reprise years, remain under copyright, with rights managed by Frank Sinatra Enterprises (FSE) and licensed to companies like Universal Music Group. 

Why can't Disney use Mickey Mouse anymore?

Mickey Mouse isn't being "cancelled," but the original 1928 version from Steamboat Willie entered the public domain, meaning anyone can use that specific, older design without Disney's permission, leading to new, often dark, creative projects like horror films. Disney still owns trademarks and copyrights on modern versions of Mickey, so using newer depictions or his name still requires licensing. The confusion arises from this complex shift from copyrighted character to public domain figure, sparking debate and new uses, not a cancellation of the beloved mascot.
 

What copyrights expire in 2025?

In 2025, works published in the U.S. in 1929 and sound recordings from 1924 entered the public domain, including books like William Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury, Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own, and Ernest Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms, along with early films like the first Marx Brothers movie and the characters Popeye and Tintin, opening them for free use, adaptation, and distribution.
 

What Disney characters are public domain in 2026?

Comics, character, and cartoons

• Dizzy Dishes-era Betty Boop.
• Rover (aka Pluto) from Disney's animated 1930 film The Chain Gang.
• Original Blondie comic strip characters Blondie and Dagwood.
• Nine Mickey Mouse cartoons from 1930, plus the first Mickey Mouse comic strips published in 1930.

What did Ben and Jerry's get sued for?

Ben & Jerry's independent board has filed lawsuits claiming Unilever violated the original acquisition agreement by censoring the brand's voice and removing leadership supportive of its social mission.

What will enter the public domain in 2030?

In 2030, works by creators who died in 1959, like poet Edwin Muir and crime writer Sax Rohmer, will enter the public domain in countries following life-plus-70-years rules, while in the U.S., works from 1925 will enter, including early stories by authors like Fitzgerald and Hemingway, alongside earlier film/music; notable comic characters like Donald Duck and King Kong are slated for the early 2030s, with Superman and Batman following in the mid-2030s. 

Will Popeye be public domain?

On January 1, 2025, the Thimble Theatre strip that introduced Popeye entered the public domain.