‘Mickey Mouse’ – as he appears in Steamboat Willie. This specific version of the character is now officially in the public domain.
Here is a collection of early cartoons from the Walt Disney studio, which are currently known to have fallen into the public domain.
This collection features the character known, and identified within the cartoons, as ‘Mickey Mouse’. He is a cartoon character co-created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. The longtime icon and mascot of the Walt Disney Company.
Mickey was created as a replacement for a prior character created by Disney, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. The character was originally to be named “Mortimer Mouse”, until Disney’s wife, Lillian, suggested “Mickey”. Mickey first appeared in two 1928 shorts Plane Crazy and The Gallopin’ Gaucho (which were not picked up for distribution) before his public debut in Steamboat Willie (1928).
Although the earliest designs of Mickey Mouse entered the public domain in 2024, the character, like all major Disney characters, remains trademarked by Disney. Trademarks last for as long as it continues to be used commercially by its owner. This website recognises these facts, and always encourages you to purchase official Disney cartoon releases. The cartoons featured here were uploaded onto YouTube by the ‘Screen Prism’ channel.
It is important to remember that these cartoons were a product of their time and often contain various references and situations that are nowadays considered to be outdated.
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