Copyright protections expire after 95 years in the U.S., which meant that Steamboat Willie , the Disney cartoon classic that marked the first appearance of Mickey Mouse (and Minnie Mouse) became public domain on Jan. 1, 2024. Since then, plenty of companies have had some fun with that 1928 version of the world's most famous rodent. John Oliver's Last Week Tonight includes an actor wearing a Steamboat Willie Mickey costume in its opening credits each week and there has even been a horror film based on the ...