Disney's Earliest Version of Mickey Mouse, Steamboat Willie, Is Now in the Public Domain. Here's What That Means.

The Walt Disney Company no longer has a grasp on all things Mickey Mouse.

The earliest version of the brand's iconic mascot featured in Disney's 1928 short film, "Steamboat Willie" entered the public domain after 95 years under U.S. copyright law.

Although the "Steamboat Willie" Mickey doesn't feature some of the mascot's signature traits we know today, like his gloves and oversized shoes, the release into the public domain will now allow others to "re-envision" the earliest version of the character, per CNN.

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But while the "Steamboat Willie" copyright is now fair use, that doesn't mean all versions of Mickey Mouse are up for grabs.

"More modern versions of Mickey will remain unaffected by the expiration of the Steamboat Willie copyright, and Mickey will continue to play a leading role as a global ambassador for the Walt Disney Company in our storytelling, theme park attractions, and merchandise," a Disney spokesperson said in a statement to CNN.

Additionally, the spokesperson added, that the Walt Disney Company will "continue to protect our rights in the more modern versions of Mickey Mouse and other works that remain subject to copyright, and we will work to safeguard against consumer confusion caused by unauthorized uses of Mickey and our other iconic characters."

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