Disney likely to lose exclusive rights to Mickey Mouse

Entertainment giant Disney is likely to lose exclusive rights to its iconic and most beloved cartoon character ‘Mickey Mouse’ in 2024.

According to the US Copyright law, intellectual property on an artist’s work expires 95 years after its first publication. For Disney, the 95-year-long copyright held on Mickey Mouse expires next year. This would mean other parties will have the opportunity to use the cartoon character in non-Disney content.

Mickey Mouse first appeared in a minute short black-and-white film directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks in 1928.