An earlier version of Mickey Mouse, the mascot of the Walt Disney Company, has become the hottest non-fungible token (NFT) trend on the OpenSea market after entering the public domain for the first time.
On January 1st, a version of Mickey featured in the 1928 short film “Steamboat Willie” entered the public domain as the copyright expired. Steamboat Willie marked Mickey Mouse’s first public appearance. After nearly a century, Disney’s copyright on this character version came to an end as U.S. law allows copyright protection for only 95 years.
Following the expiration of copyright, three NFT collections related to the vintage mascot claimed the top three spots on OpenSea’s 24-hour trending list. The NFT collection titled “Steamboat Willie Public Domain 2024” secured the first position, generating around $1.2 million in trading volume. Another collection named “Steamboat Willie” took the second spot on the list, while “Steamboat Willie’s Riverboat” secured the third position.
Apart from the trending list, the Steamboat Willie Public Domain 2024 collection also ranked sixth on OpenSea’s 24-hour lists, alongside popular collections like Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) and Pudgy Penguins. The Steamboat Willie collection also claimed the eighth spot on the same list.
Despite the expiration of copyright for this version of the beloved mascot, Disney emphasized that modern versions of Mickey will not be affected by the Steamboat Willie copyright expiration.
In a statement to CNN, a Disney spokesperson stated that the company will “continue to protect” its rights over modern versions of Mickey Mouse and other works still subject to copyright. They mentioned their commitment to safeguarding against consumer confusion caused by unauthorized uses of Mickey and their other iconic characters.