Mickey? Is that you?

Mickey? Is that you?  

As the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve, the copyright of the iconic rodent from the Steamboat Willie cartoon expired. As couples kissed each other on New Year’s Eve, the entertainment giant known, as Disney, kissed the 95-year copyright goodbye. Mickey has officially entered public domain.  

There is a small catch though… 

People can only use the original versions of Mickey and Minnie, as they appear in Steamboat Willie. Other details introduced in later years like their white gloves, Mickey’s classic red pants, Minnie’s polka dots, and their high-pitched voice, are off limits. 

Disney still has a registered trademark on Steamboat Willie Mickey as a company mascot. People just have to make sure that they clarify that it isn’t an official Disney production. 

I’m terrified to see what the public does 

Creative minds have already jumped at this opportunity to take people’s childhood and turn into a psychological horror, as usual.  

Just like Winnie the Pooh, they just had to announce a horror movie for Mickey (WHY). It is known as Mickey’s Mouse Trap, which already tells you all that you need to know. Here we have a Mickey covered in bloodstains hunting people down.  

As if a movie wasn’t enough, Nightmare Forge announced a horror game which involves an absolutely unhinged, bloody version of Mickey hunting you and your friends down in a dark warehouse.  

I guess we will have to see how this ends up turning out: a blessing, or a curse, or both.