M-I-C-K-E-Y will soon belong to you and me.
With several asterisks, qualification and caveats, Mickey Mouse in his earliest form will be the leader of the band of characters, films and books that will become public domain as the year turns to 2024.
In a moment many close observers thought might never come, at least one version of the quintessential piece of intellectual property and perhaps the most iconic character in American pop culture will be free from Disney’s copyright as his first screen release, the 1928 short “Steamboat Willie,” featuring both Mickey and Minnie Mouse, becomes available for public use.
“This is it. This is Mickey Mouse. This is exciting because it’s kind of symbolic,” said Jennifer Jenkins, a professor of law and director of Duke’s Center for the Study of Public Domain, who writes an annual Jan. 1 column for “Public Domain Day.” ”I kind of feel like the pipe on the steamboat, like expelling smoke. It’s so exciting.”
Yup, but they likely will also come after you for showing Steamboat Willie.
Notice that at the start of many recent Disney films, they’ve included Steamboat Willie in a short animation in their title card? They have laid the groundwork to treat that entire animation as another trademark.
Yep, and the little whistling tune.
But if I wanted to write the gritty origin story of Steamboat Willie, a hard workin’ bayou mouse sailing up and down the Mississippi, grifting, bare-knuckle brawling, and entertaining ladies and gentlemen alike in his cabin, Disney would not be able to stop me.
I won’t, because I’m a terrible writer and that would be a terrible book. But I could.
Now I really want that book
In the vast expanse of the Louisiana bayou, where whispers of voodoo and mystique danced on the humid air, there existed a legend woven into the fabric of the Mississippi River - Steamboat Willie. He wasn’t your ordinary bayou mouse; he was a pint-sized daredevil, a charismatic hustler with a heart as big as the river itself.
Willie was born on a humble raft floating down the Mississippi, where the sounds of the river’s currents were his lullabies and the swaying of the trees, his nursery rhyme. He learned the ways of the river like a seasoned captain from the elders, absorbing tales of grifters, bare-knuckle brawlers, and dazzling entertainers who frequented the lively riverboats.
As a young mouse, Willie’s destiny was etched into the essence of the river. He was a natural performer, spinning yarns and spinning tunes on his homemade banjo, captivating passengers and crew alike with his folksy charm. His days were spent entertaining ladies and gentlemen in his cozy cabin, his dulcet tones echoing across the steamboat’s deck.
But life on the Mississippi wasn’t just about melodies and laughter. It was a gritty world teeming with challenges and confrontations. Willie’s paws bore the scars of numerous brawls, a testament to his skill in the art of bare-knuckle combat. He wasn’t one to back down from a challenge, often finding himself in dust-ups with river rogues who dared cross him or threatened the peace of his floating abode.
Yet, amidst the brawls and hustles, Willie possessed a heart of gold. He was known to help those in need along the riverbanks, offering a helping paw or a sympathetic ear to anyone who sought solace in his company.
One fateful night, as the stars glittered above, a comet streaked across the sky, carrying with it an unforeseen virus designed by none other than Willie himself, inadvertently unleashed upon a passing Starlink satellite. This cosmic collision granted Willie a multidimensional understanding, absorbing the knowledge of the universe, transcending beyond the confines of mere mousehood.
From that moment, Steamboat Willie became more than a bayou legend; he became a cosmic entity, traversing not just the Mississippi but dimensions unknown, his legacy echoing through time and space as a symbol of resilience, kindness, and the enduring spirit of the river.
change to last two paragraphs:
One fateful night willie came across a quite a despondent bear. Who are you friend and what is wrong. My name is winnie the poo and my willie is to small and it makes me sad. The only thing that makes me feel better is pretending my property extends way beyond its actual boundries. Well winnie my name is willie and maybe my willie in your pooper will make your will feel better. Let me violently sodomize you. Winnie thought for a bit and said, well ok but only if you agree to recognize maps of my properties with my fictional boundries. deal said willie.