Mickey Mouse, along with several other characters, will enter the public domain on January 1st. Creative works that are no longer protected by U.S. copyright law can be entered into the public domain. In 1998, U.S. law extended protection for another 20 years. The Center for the Study of Public Domain is at Duke University. This is exciting because it is symbolic.
The Disney Company told The Associated Press that Mickey Mouse has been associated with Disney's stories, experiences, and authentic products since his first appearance in the 1928 short film Steamboat Willie.
People will only be able to use the public version of the mouse in Steamboat Willie. Disney's trademark on Mickey is used to represent the company and its brand.
Tigger, the bouncing tiger from The House at Pooh Corner, will join Winnie the Pooh in the public domain. Two years ago, Winnie the Pooh became public property, and this year there is a horror film about the bear. Charlie Chaplin's film Circus is one of the works that is entering the U.S. public domain. VOA Learning English adapted the story from The Associated Press.
Words in a story.
An empire is a group of businesses under the control of one person.
Adj. authentic, true and accurate.
It's symbolic to represent an idea or quality.
The fact of coming to an end or no longer valid.