Early Mickey Mouse Character Tops OpenSea After Copyright Expiry

On Jan 2, 2024

A surge to the top of the OpenSea trending list marks a new chapter for an early version of Mickey Mouse. Featured originally in the 1928 short film “Steamboat Willie”, this character recently entered the public domain.

January 1st marked a significant change for Mickey Mouse’s early version, as its copyright expired. United States copyright law, which caps the duration at 95 years, facilitated this shift.

As a result, Disney’s exclusive rights to this early portrayal of one of animation’s most cherished characters concluded, leading to a flurry of activity on the popular NFT marketplace.

Creators and collectors alike seized the opportunity to celebrate and monetize this now-public domain character.