"Steamboat Willie" Enters Public Domain

     Today, January 1, 2024, one of the most iconic animated shorts in American history officially entered the public domain. "Steamboat Willie", which was originally produced and released by Walt Disney Animation Studios on November 18, 1928, has entered the public domain after its 95 year copyright finally expired. The copyright expiration means that Disney no longer has the exclusive rights to the versions of Mickey and Minnie Mouse that appear in the short, although they will continue to hold the copyright to versions of Mickey and Minnie from shorts released after "Steamboat Willie".

    The entire "Steamboat Willie" short can be seen below.




When will other Mickey Mouse animated shorts enter the public domain?
Based on current U.S. copyright law, which states that a work enters the public domain on January 1st 95 years after a work is first released, the following Mickey Mouse animated shorts will enter the public domain in the following years. (Author's note: I'm only including the shorts that were originally released during Walt Disney's lifetime; also, shorts that are already in the public domain, such as "The Mad Doctor", are not listed here. All shorts listed will enter the public domain on January 1st of the year listed).

2025
Plane Crazy
The Gallopin' Gaucho
The Barn Dance
The Opry House
When The Cat's Away
The Barnyard Battle
The Plowboy
The Karnival Kid
Mickey's Follies
Mickey's Choo-Choo
The Jazz Fool
Jungle Rhythm
The Haunted House
Wild Waves

2026
Fiddling Around/Just Mickey
The Barnyard Concert
The Cactus Kid
The Fire Fighters
The Shindig
The Chain Gang
The Gorilla Mystery
The Picnic
Pioneer Days

2027
The Birthday Party
Traffic Troubles
The Castaway
The Moose Hunt
The Delivery Boy
Mickey Steps Out
Blue Rhythm
Fishin' Around
The Barnyard Broadcast
The Beach Party
Mickey Cuts Up
Mickey's Orphans

2028
The Duck Hunt
The Grocery Boy
The Mad Dog
Barnyard Olympics
Mickey's Revue
Musical Farmer
Mickey In Arabia
Mickey's Nightmare
Trader Mickey
The Whoopee Party
Touchdown Mickey
The Wayward Canary
The Klondike Kid
Mickey's Good Deed

2029
Building A Building
Mickey's Pal Pluto
Mickey's Mellerdrammer
Ye Olden Days
The Mail Pilot
Mickey's Mechanical Man
Mickey's Gala Premier
Puppy Love
The Steeplechase
The Pet Store
Giantland

2030
Shanghaied
Camping Out
Playful Pluto
Gulliver Mickey
Mickey's Steam Roller
Orphans' Benefit
Mickey Plays Papa
The Dognapper
Two-Gun Mickey

2031
Mickey's Man Friday
The Band Concert
Mickey's Service Station
Mickey's Kangaroo
Mickey's Garden
Mickey's Fire Brigade
Pluto's Judgment Day
On Ice

2032
Mickey's Polo Team
Orphans' Picnic
Mickey's Grand Opera
Thru The Mirror
 Mickey's Rival
Moving Day
Alpine Climbers
Mickey's Circus
Mickey's Elephant

2033
The Worm Turns
Magician Mickey
Moose Hunters
Mickey's Amateurs
Hawaiian Holiday
Clock Cleaners
Lonesome Ghosts

2034
Boat Builders
Mickey's Trailer
The Whalers
Mickey's Parrot
Brave Little Tailor

2035
Society Dog Show
Mickey's Surprise Party
The Pointer

2036
Tugboat Mickey
Pluto's Dream House
Mr. Mouse Takes A Trip

2037
The Little Whirlwind
A Gentleman's Gentleman
Canine Caddy
The Nifty Nineties
Orphans' Benefit (color remake of same named short listed above)
Lend A Paw

2038
Mickey's Birthday Party
Symphony Hour

2039
Pluto And The Armadillo

2040-2041
N/A

2042
Squatter's Rights

2043
Mickey's Delayed Date

2044
Mickey Down Under
Mickey And The Seal

2045-2046
N/A

2047
R'Coon Dawg

2048
Pluto's Party
Pluto's Christmas Tree

2049
The Simple Things




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