Mickey Mouse is still protected under the passing off law. Only the actual cartoons are public domain.
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merde@sh.itjust.works 4 days ago
licenses mickey mouse 🤔
On January 1, 2024, the copyrights of the first three animated Mickey Mouse cartoons and their portrayal of Mickey Mouse expired in the United States, and they entered the public domain. They are the silent versions of the cartoons Plane Crazy and The Gallopin’ Gaucho, as well as the sound cartoon Steamboat Willie. Newer versions of Mickey Mouse remain copyright-protected.
ThomasWilliams@lemmy.world 4 days ago
phaedrus@piefed.world 4 days ago
In the very quote you pasted:
It’s only the version that was in those original cartoons that is public domain.
Peffse@lemmy.world 4 days ago
It was wild seeing fair-use Mickey Mouse in a divorce lawyer’s commercial.