Mickey Mouse is now public domain! Here's what you need to know.

[@JohnCastillo]

I'd like to address a few things since this video has been getting some traction: 1) Thanks so much for watching and for your feedback! I tried to the best of my ability to be as meticulous as possible with my fact-checking but it seems I missed a few things, sorry about that. Here's an addendum: 2) Although Steamboat Williie was NOT the 1st cartoon with sound, it was the first cartoon with synchronized sound featuring complete post-produced soundtrack, sound effects, and dialogue. The firstt cartoon with sound is the "Song Car-Tune" by Fleischer Studios. 3) You guys have brought to my attention a Mickey Mouse poster from 1928 which features Mickey wearing yellow gloves, red shorts, and brown shoes! This spices things up a bit even further! I'm puttiing a link to this poster up in the video description.

[@christopherralf514]

❤ I love it, Mickey Mouse. Cartoon

[@DavesToons]

That poster actually isn't confirmed to be from 1928 as it has no date on it. Heritage Auctions' listing for the poster says it "could" date from the release of Steamboat Willie, everyone else saying it's from 1928 is either inferring that just from context clues or doesn't provide a source. Animation historian David Gerstein (who's published officially licensed Disney works) made a thread showing that those clues could actually indicate that the poster is anachronistic for Mickey depictions at the time. He also shows a photo with the poster in Disney's animation department that could reliably be dated to 1929/1930 based on the employees present. Mickey DOES have gloves in the opening and end cards for all three now public-domain Mickey shorts, though, so those should be fair game to use.

[@centrevezgaming4862]

Great random people walking in the background cameos for this video

[@dimitraartistautisticidiotr]

Reason why I hate disney 1: race Swaps 2: Lgbt Controversy 3:Worst Movie Trailers 4:flops 5: CEO Bob Iger Final: is a Corrupt Corporation I hope disney shut down for good

[@FrostyMac]

Fun fact: There’s actually a poster from 1928 that portrays Mickey as VERY CLOSE to his modern design. It’s pretty much the same except that his gloves are yellow instead of white and brown shoes instead of yellow (plus his head and face are the Stramboat Willie version, of course). The only issue is that we don’t know when it was published for copyright purposes, even though it was first used in 1928, so it’s hard to say whether that depiction is public domain or not yet

[@twinsgardening896]

If it was first used in 1928, that means it's public domain. If it was created before then, that just means it would have been public domain before now anyways. It's public domain.

[@nurifu_nightly]

Yeah but it's trademarked and trademarks never expire

[@FrostyMac]

@@nurifu_nightly Trademark only comes into play if it’s reasonably possible for consumers to mistake your product for a Disney product. As long as you slap an unmissable disclaimer on what you’re doing, you’re probably fine in theory

[@FrostyMac]

@@twinsgardening896 Hard to say because there are some folks who say it was first used in 1929. So I’d be careful about it

[@MellowMutant]

Interesting

[@thebananaspeedruns9275]

Fun fact: around 2076 the arcade game Donkey Kong will be public domain, meaning that you will be able to use that version of DK, Jump Man (not Mario), and Lady (not Pauline) When this happens Nintendo can’t put DMCA’s on any Fan game using things from Donkey Kong AND ONLY DONKEY KONG, as they will no longer own the copyright though you will still have to deal with there trademarks

[@Aapiplayz]

I thought it was gonna be in 2100 something when Jumpman and Donkey Kong become public domain. I'm guessing the 95 years apply to Jumpman rather than the life of the creator plus 70 years which would have made it much longer until Jumpman is public domain since Miyamoto is still alive.

[@thebananaspeedruns9275]

@Aapiplayz @Aapiplayz Nintendo owns the rights to the Arcade Donkey Kong and since Nintendo is a company the 95 years rule applies The 70 year after the owners death only applies to self owned things like Indie games and most types of music

[@juliocesarfabianosaboia7330]

My opinion is that all of these characters have become so famous, and have impacted the history of entertainment, animation and art so much that they're basically bound to become very novel and modern forms of folklore, they're bound to be taken up by others who will reimagine and breath new life into these characters, just like old folk tale characters and such.

[@dimitraartistautisticidiotr]

Reason why I hate disney 1: race Swaps 2: Lgbt Controversy 3:Worst Movie Trailers 4:flops 5: CEO Bob Iger Final: is a Corrupt Corporation I hope disney shut down for good

[@larryinc64]

@@dimitraartistautisticidiotr I am going to make a race swapped controversially LGBT floppy Mickey Mouse with the worst movie trailer and there is nothing you can do to stop me.

[@cheezdoodle96]

​@@larryinc64 Y-You're gonna turn Mickey Mouse into Rickey Rat?

[@twinsgardening896]

7:40 "you still can't represent Mickey with white gloves, red shorts, and yellow shoes, because that iteration was published later" Nope! there's actually a color poster from 1928 that is now public domain showing red shorts, yellow gloves, and brown boots! A version of mickey with white gloves is also in the title card to Steamboat Willie and the other two shorts that just became public domain.

[@dimitraartistautisticidiotr]

Reason why I hate disney 1: race Swaps 2: Lgbt Controversy 3:Worst Movie Trailers 4:flops 5: CEO Bob Iger Final: is a Corrupt Corporation I hope disney shut down for good

[@gmoneythestickman]

@@dimitraartistautisticidiotrwhat are you talking about

[@cristinaoruezabal8660]

Congratulations for creating engaging content on the public domain of Mickey Mouse! Your creative exploration of this iconic character plus the vintage TV and the machine to see old cartoons it was fantastic, really adds a unique and insightful perspective for your audience. Congratulations and continue this wonderful and creative way to shows so much discussion?…. or I could say hot topic…. I couldn’t find the correct word for that. Anyway, continue this wonderful work!!! Congratulations again

[@JohnCastillo]

Thank you so much! I’m really glad you enjoyed it 🐭

[@patotive4704]

This sounds like a chat gpt comment lol

[@cristinaoruezabal8660]

@@patotive4704 excellent help, when your English is not your native language . Have a good one!!

[@patotive4704]

@@cristinaoruezabal8660 fair enough

[@jasonjungreis203]

Even with Mickey being trademarked, I suspect this will loosen Disney’s control over Mickey in some way. After all, if trademarks completely protected Mickey, then Disney wouldn’t have lobbied Congress to change the copyright term twice.

[@dimitraartistautisticidiotr]

Reason why I hate disney 1: race Swaps 2: Lgbt Controversy 3:Worst Movie Trailers 4:flops 5: CEO Bob Iger Final: is a Corrupt Corporation I hope disney shut down for good

[@somemoron9306]

@@dimitraartistautisticidiotrcry harder snowflake

[@MagcargoMan]

Regarding what you said about Winnie-the-Pooh being made as a children's television series by another animation studio, that absolutely would not be grounds for Disney to sue merely for being competition. People are free to use Winnie-the-Pooh as they wish as long as they don't use any elements created for Disney's version of the character/series. Disney can't go and trademark something as broad as "having an animated series about a public domain character we have also made an animated show about".

[@plasmaemerald8407]

I know this is unrelated but the effort you put into this is AMAZING! Intro, the small tv in the background that presents what you are talking about, this looks like something a fancy studio put together. AMAZING WORK! I subscribed because you deserve better!🔥✨

[@SharpCinema]

I think you're reading it a bit too strictly - trademarks cannot circumvent the public domain. As long as you are making a product that is based on the public domain Mickey, and you are not creating market confusion, you are good to go. Essentially don't name your film or video game studio "Mickey Mouse Studios" or "Disney Mouse Studios" or "Dasny Studios" or something clearly sewing confusion and you'll be ok. One thing you missed in here is how much Disney has enriched itself in the past based on Public Domain properties (Pinocchio, Snow White, Cinderella, Little Mermaid, Aladdin, etc, etc) so you should feel good using Mickey in a new creative way.

[@patrickcollier7090]

As an artist myself I feel it is important for pop culture icons to become public domain. So many interesting peices of art borrow from and iterate on popular culture. Allowing companies to own these works indefinitely just feels wrong to me. No one working at disney today had anything to do with the creation or publication of steamboat willie so why should they still have the exclusive rights to use and or profit off of that work and to stop others from doing interesting things with it?

[@IuriFiedoruk]

Works based upon public domain should have a more open copyright system. Because the principle of public domain, is that you can do ANY derivative work. But if you can't, for example, add white gloves to it, then it is not public domain, it is a copyrighted material with a clause that limits usage. That does not seem reasonable if the work is already derived from a public domain work. It makes no sens you can't make a Snow White with a yellow skirt, even if the character is in public domain forever.

[@glennsimpson_aka_bobbysaccaro]

Over in the world of comic books, we're all trying to figure out what happens when Superman becomes public domain. DC comics has the trademarks for "Superman" for comic books, so if you try to reprint or create derivative works, what can you or can't you say on the cover?

[@tajryanproductions]

I watched this whole video assuming you had at least 100k subscribers and shocked that you don’t even have 2k and this video only has just under 500 views. You don’t get nearly enough credit for the care you put in!

[@JohnCastillo]

Hey, thank you so much for your kind words! It really means a lot. My goal is to make this a more serious revenue stream this year so I’m trying to make the best videos I can 😊😊

[@cartergamegeek]

Even with trademark law if you put a massive legal notice that you are not Disney and that the use of the characters used in the work are based on public domain works then Disney can not as easily sue you. Even if it was a screen a kid skipped in a video game the whole point is saying my work is not connected to Disney. Trademarks can protect brand ID stuff but if you right out of the gate say all characters used are public domain and I am not connected to Disney they can not easy win. Because they lose the tricking case. As long as you are not a massive idiot this gets you a good bit of freedom as you state clearly that your work is not linked to them.

[@heyyo966]

Exactly what I was thinking, while I understand others want to make a quick buck by making all of these horror movies and games, I feel like another, more mature and lasting approach would be to turn Steamboat Willie into a series. Get some very talented animators and writers to take the basis of the original cartoon and expand upon it with new one-off characters and plots, an episodic route where Mickey, Pete, Minnie (careful not to use all there names) and the animals of the steamboat visit a new location or taking a different passenger that leads to slapstick and comedy every episode. Occasionally an episode breaking the formula like the engine breaking down in the middle of nowhere or Minnie learning to become a crew member. Whether it be on TV or KZbin, whatever works best. Put a disclaimer at the very beginning of each episode that this is public domain and not owned by Disney. I just feel like that would be more effective in the long run, but artistically, financially and at showing off to Disney. But that’s just one opinion what do you guys think?

[@joeyreda1694]

Such an interesting and complex topic!! Great video, John :)

[@usmann85]

The first sound cartoon was not Steamboat Willie. It was actually the famous bouncing ball shorts which were first made in 1926.

[@scottmorgason]

Great work on this video. Well done and very informative.

[@JohnCastillo]

Thanks Scott! Appreciate you

[@heykeeg]

super interesting man! I love your range of knowledge about these things

[@JohnCastillo]

Thanks Keegz :D glad to hear you enjoyed it! I worked hard on this one ☺️

[@rogerpritchard]

Very interesting and well presented. Recently here in north east thailand there is a big resurgance of Mickey Mouse, Minnie and Goofy T-shirts being sold cheaply in supermarkets. Very popular here. You deserve many more subscribers. Great work.

[@JohnCastillo]

Thanks Roger! 😊😊 I appreciate your kind words, and thank you for watching!

[@edyer01]

This is already started, as of today 1-3-2024 there is a new movie out called Mickey’s Mouse Trap. Don’t know for sure if it’s the same company that put out Winnie the Pooh blood and honey, but has that exact same style it’s another type horror film independently made. Looks to not be released until March but the trailer is already out which means they must have wrote, directed, filmed, edited, and cut the feature film and Trailer to be ready to go by January 1, 2024. I personally can’t wait to see it.

[@dcastillo120]

Outstanding! Very informative and high quality! Congratulations

[@JohnCastillo]

Thank you!! 😊🥰

[@dimitraartistautisticidiotr]

Reason why I hate disney 1: race Swaps 2: Lgbt Controversy 3:Worst Movie Trailers 4:flops 5: CEO Bob Iger Final: is a Corrupt Corporation I hope disney shut down for good

[@bensmith4376]

What about using the 1928 Mickey in Graphic Design not as a logo but as a design element?

[@centrevezgaming4862]

Continue: an version of the Michelin tires mascot does exist it’s called the marshmallow man from ghostbusters that was an cross between Michelin and pilsbury mascots according to Dan Aykroyd even Sony went through legal battles for using the name ghostbusters to say it was already owned by filmation studios amongst other controversies surrounding ghostbusters in the 80’s that included the main song for the 84 movie where Huey Lewis took Ray Parker jr to court where Parker jr’s song was similar to Lewis I want a new drug but the case got settled out of court.

[@lordcommandernox9197]

Steamboat willy's Intro card has a Mickey with white gloves.

[@silverbricks_yt]

Great video! It was so well made and put together! Although I still have one question if someone is to make something of steamboat Willie would they be able to call him Mickey or have to call him Willie?

[@moondoor9031]

I'm surprised by the amount of quality that I saw on this video. The edition was really good too. But since Mickey is in books, cartoons, movies, music,video games and etc... I find it hard to use him in a project. I think it would be a Michelin case. PD but nobody can use it

[@JohnCastillo]

Thanks Mondoor ☺️ I agree, though it’s possible Disney will be overwhelmed with Mickey’s usage as well. We’ll see how much Mickey we see in 2024.

[@centrevezgaming4862]

One time Columbia pictures owned Batman for the original black and white serials due to one of the episodes appeared on the double feature vhs release of ghostbusters in the early nineties released in the Uk before Batman became properties of Warner brothers just like Superman the original versions will be entering the public domain registration but not the ones by Warner.

[@joehumpston7937]

I'm sorta working on a Mickey Mouse project myself

[@JohnCastillo]

Tell me more

[@joehumpston7937]

@@JohnCastillo You'll have to wait and see.

[@Dalton_Boardman2000]

I really want someone to to make a dark and edgy stop motion film featuring the Steamboat Willie characters.

[@ricardomorejon9655]

Can I sample Mickey’s whistle? How much?

[@JohnCastillo]

Free!!

[@twinsgardening896]

If it's the whistle that appears in Steamboat willie, the whole thing is public domain -- so you can use it for free!

[@Joshua2D]

how do you get the crt tv to not flick on film?

[@JohnCastillo]

Hey! The CRT is in black and white so it works at 30fps. My Sony FX3 could only do 29.97, so you can sort of see a black line slowly descend throughout the video because the frame rates are slightly out of sync, but ideally the way to do it is by matching the frame rate to 30fps :)

[@Joshua2D]

@@JohnCastillo Thank you 🙏

[@dimitraartistautisticidiotr]

Reason why I hate disney 1: race Swaps 2: Lgbt Controversy 3:Worst Movie Trailers 4:flops 5: CEO Bob Iger Final: is a Corrupt Corporation I hope disney shut down for good

[@ZODIACGANG798]

you know, the modern Mickey should be trademark because it’s the kids find out there’s a horror video game, and two movies and makes kids get scared of Mickey but Disney should make the trademark version of Mickey instead of the original 1928 version

[@TinyToonStar]

It is already trademarked

[@FreysOnTheSide]

Well done video and awesome message!

[@JohnCastillo]

Thanks Frey’s :D

[@youtubecartoon1391]

HAPPY NEW YEAR ON 6 DAYS AGO!!!!!!

[@burhanbudak6041]

But will there be any rollback of copyright law that was extended by Disney? If not Disney, what other studio would lobby for longer copyright.

[@allie-ontheweb]

Was gonna write a correcting comment about how Master music rights aren't life of the author, but after doing some research it seems they are in the US! I work with music licencing in UK so am used to slightly different laws - for us Publishing is life of the author plus 70 years, and Master is just 70 years

[@RareSun]

Wait. How the hell does the projecter play sound. Where does it get it from????

[@williamsart]

The name "Mickey Mouse" is indeedly trademarked but if you refer to the rat as "Steamboat willie" or "Steamboat captain Willie" and then use the likelyness of the mouse characters in this short film you should be fine I feel like. but take this comment with a grain of salt since well I'm not a lawyer. so this is not legal advice.

[@alface935]

I will call Him "Captain Steam" or "Steamboat Captain" or "Captain Steamboat" or "Steam Rat" or "Captain Rat"

[@hasty_rychu]

One of my students with autism LOVES winnie the pooh and apparently accidentally started watching Blood and Honey until his mom heard screaming and turned it off 😂😭

[@1Manimation1]

so does that mean i can sell disney merch legally now?

[@Doktario_Mystario]

eventually a lot of Mickey Mouse material becomes public domain so artists have less to worry about and can do more. There will eventually be a point where creating Mickey Mouse media becomes so safe that it wouldn't be worth it to protect anymore

[@03e-210a]

Why do filthy corporations get 95 YEARS. At most it should be 60 while for artists it should only be lifetime

[@alface935]

True but I would argue that 30 years should be for Both Any more, Any less

[@03e-210a]

@@alface935 I think that would have them clamoring. 40 years for companies and 50 for individual artists. We shouldn't try to make the corporation equal to the individual.

[@alface935]

@@03e-210a Why not?

[@arnoldsnodgrass2953]

Great discussion, although I’d disagree slightly with your use of “counterfeiting” towards the end. More misrepresentation, I think.

[@JohnCastillo]

Yeah, it’s a fine line! But then again, now that Disney doesn’t “own” it, is it misrepresentation?

[@LittleJoeTheMoonlightCat]

For Examples Nickelodeon has a Trademark on an Orange Splat, Rated K for Kids by Kids has a Trademarked K, Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert had Trademarked Thumbs, J C is a Trademark of John Castillo, and I have My Channel Icon and M S O C B F N™. Well for example, Little Joe: The Moonlight Cat, The Terror Of The Night, The Terror Of The House, The Youngest Jellicle, And Son Of The Everlasting Cat, is both ©and ™by me. He has Poems with© and my Channel Icon Featuring Said Character is a Common Law ™ of my channel.

[@mrfrikki0]

There is aready 2 horror movies and 2 games with mickey this year. The games being infestation benings and carabian sails got/getting mickey added.

[@jimdotbeep]

Mickey wore gloves in the title card of Steamboat Willy. I've been watching a lot of videos about Mickey becoming public Domain. This is among the worst.

[@TheSuperGoober]

What type of TV is that in the thumbnail and background (ik a Crt but what kind)? I neeeed iiiit

[@alface935]

Me and the Boys waiting for the year 2090 so We can sell Legally Famiclones with 1390 games in the Memory without having to worry about Nintendo sueing Us to the Ground:

[@RocKnight11]

Does this mean Mickey Mouse (the Steamboat Willie version) could be a DLC character in Mortal Kombat?

[@JohnCastillo]

I believe so!

[@Mister_Don888]

I really wish copyright wasn’t 90 fricking years!!

[@jjhendo]

I wanna see Mickey peddling cigarettes. 🚬

[@JohnCastillo]

😂

[@Tacom4ster]

umm it was not the first cartoon with sound, Tvtropes said so I hope to make a Banksy style arthouse movie critiquing capitalism with Mickey

[@mr_indie_fan]

Using Capitalism to critique capitalism 💀

[@VanilleDebray]

suuuuuper interesting! u should be a professor ;)

[@dimitraartistautisticidiotr]

I'm gonna make my ultimate rant on disney!! Reason why I hate disney 1: race Swaps 2: Lgbt Controversy 3:Worst Movie Trailers 4:flops 5: CEO Bob Iger Final: is a Corrupt Corporation I hope disney shut down for good

[@JoaoLucas-kz5vu]

😮👏🏻👏🏻

[@JohnCastillo]

Obrigado!!

[@marthaperedacruz1253]

Mickey mouse is not public domain 🚫 🇵🇪 or 🇺🇲

[@dimitraartistautisticidiotr]

Reason why I hate disney 1: race Swaps 2: Lgbt Controversy 3:Worst Movie Trailers 4:flops 5: CEO Bob Iger Final: is a Corrupt Corporation I hope disney shut down for good

[@stargazer-elite]

Yes it is just not modern versions

[@unoalejandrojavier5724]

One of the reason why China's economy is booming. And the rest of the world cant do anything about it. Quality of everything suffers.

[@Mat_Sedano]

24 seconds of non-related intro that tells nothing!!?? I almost clicked away, like info about this is in like 10,000 videos, so....

[@dimitraartistautisticidiotr]

Reason why I hate disney 1: race Swaps 2: Lgbt Controversy 3:Worst Movie Trailers 4:flops 5: CEO Bob Iger Final: is a Corrupt Corporation I hope disney shut down for good

[@stargazer-elite]

Bro has the attention span of a toddler 💀