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.
Mickey Mouse Dominates OpenSea
Following the expiration of copyright for Mickey Mouse’s early version, three NFT collections inspired by this vintage character witnessed a dramatic rise on OpenSea’s charts.
“Steamboat Willie’s Riverboat” currently claims the top spot on the secondary marketplace, with a modest floor price of approximately $23.66 (0.01 ETH) and a trading volume of $44,961 (19 ETH).
Moreover, close behind, in second place, is “Steamboat Willie”, boasting a higher floor price of $354 (0.15 ETH) and an impressive $343,123 (145 ETH) in trading volume.
“Steamboat Willie Public Domain 2024” secured the third position, with a floor price of $283 (0.12 ETH) and the highest trading volume of $733,574 (310 ETH).
Disney’s Copyright Reminder
Despite these vintage versions of Mickey Mouse becoming publicly available, Disney has issued a reminder about the modern versions of the character, which remain under copyright protection.
In a statement to CNN, a Disney spokesperson emphasized the company’s ongoing commitment to protecting the rights of the modern iterations of Mickey Mouse.
The same spokesperson also highlighted Disney’s dedication to safeguarding against consumer confusion caused by unauthorized uses of Mickey Mouse and other iconic Disney characters.
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