This is all a bit Mickey Mouse: Disney's most famous character loses his copyright

Mickey Mouse, one of the most iconic characters in popular culture, no longer has copyright protection.

And the world-famous Walt Disney character, who made his screen debut in the short film Steamboat Willie in 1928, is not the only iconic work to be available to the public.

Members of the public will be able to use the image of Mickey and Minnie Mouse featured in their first screen release, the 1928 short film Steamboat Willie, from January 1 after the copyright expires.

Disney is also set to lose its copyright of Winnie's beloved sidekick Tigger who first appeared in the book The House at Pooh Corner 96 years ago.

U.S. law allows copyright to be held for 95 years - with Congress expanding it several times during that period. The Passion of Joan of Arc, directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer,  Dark Princess by W. E. B. Du Bois, Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D. H. Lawrence and Orlando: A Biography by Virginia Woolf are all also set to enter the public domain.

Thousands of other works are entering the copyright-free period of their lives but it is the beloved Mickey Mouse who will take the headlines. Disney looked set to lose the copyright to Mickey and Minnie in 2004 but benefited from a 20-year extension from Congress.

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YouTuber Jake Watson, a lawyer who makes videos for Corridor Digital, explained the thinking behind the Walt Disney Company's decision not to try to extend the copyright once more.

"Disney is about to lose copyright in Mickey Mouse, that's right: Mickey Mouse. Literally the most iconic character they have ever created, one that they themselves claim is worth $15 billion and they're doing it all on purpose," he said.

"But why? The answer is both shocking and kind of genius. Over the coming years, several other versions of Mickey Mouse and other iconic Disney characters will also lose their copyright. All copyrights, every single one, is limited by time, and when the copyright protection runs out, the work enters the public domain.

"Once a work enters the public domain, it stays there forever. (So) why hasn't Disney done anything about it this time? The real reason is over the last 25 years Disney has gotten so big it is no longer worth the time to extend the copyright of Mickey Mouse. It literally is not worth it anymore.

"They're literally choosing not to even attempt to extend copyright protection on the most iconic character they've ever created."

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