Disney Admits Defeat in YouTube Battle Over ‘Steamboat Willie’

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The Walt Disney Company appears to be coming to terms with the realization that its most iconic character has officially and unequivocally entered the public domain.

According to tech site Mashable, Disney’s reconciliation with this fact stems from a copyright dispute on YouTube.

Mashable chronicled the curious tale of YouTube content creator and voice actor Brock Baker — a comic impressionist — whose comedic take on the 1928 Mickey Mouse film “Steamboat Willie” was swiftly hit with a copyright claim from Disney when it posted on Thursday.

“Steamboat Willie” officially entered the public domain on Jan. 1, 2024, and, to the surprise of nobody, a slew of non-Disney-sanctioned Mickey Mouse-adjacent projects cropped up around that time.

Baker, perhaps in an attempt to test just how far public domain rights extended, essentially posted the entirety of the eight-minute film, with the caveat that he dubbed over the audio track with his own comedic ramblings.

You can see the bit for yourself below:

WARNING: The following clip contains language that some viewers may find offensive

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