Mickey Mouse and the case of overlapping IP

By William W. Stroever

February 9, 2024

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The January 1, 2024 expiration of the ‘Steamboat Willie’ copyright registration has received a significant amount of attention both in the media and in the legal community. Unfortunately, this attention has often been imprecise and exaggerated, which may lead to a great deal of confusion in the marketplace as individuals and small businesses try to take advantage of this presumed opportunity. In reality, the impact of this copyright expiration will likely be minimal, given Disney’s aggressive protection of its global ambassador Mickey Mouse, and the power of overlapping IP protection.

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