NFTs
Mickey Mouse NFTs Sail to the Top on OpenSea as Iconic Steamboat Willie Enters Public Domain
Notably, three collections, including “Steamboat Willie Public Domain 2024,” achieved notable success, with the former claiming the top spot in trading volume, amassing a substantial $1.2 million.
Mickey Mouse’s persona in 1928’s “Steamboat Willie” has officially entered public domain, marking a historic moment in the history of intellectual property.
This move represents a major milestone, giving audiences unrestricted access to the original version of the character, which laid the foundation for Mickey’s enduring global popularity.
As the beloved character becomes freely accessible after the expiration of his 95-year copyright term, a wave of NFT collections inspired by this early version have emerged.
NFT Frenzy on OpenSea
Following Steamboat Willie’s transition into the public domain, major NFT marketplace OpenSea has seen a surge in popularity for three distinct NFT collections inspired by this classic iteration of Mickey Mouse:
- “Steamboat Willie Public Domain 2024” tops the trading charts with a volume of $1.12 million.
- “Steamboat Willie” comes in second.
- “Steamboat Willie’s Riverboat” secures third place.
Notably, “Steamboat Willie Public Domain 2024” is not only leading in trading volume. It has also secured the sixth spot on OpenSea’s 24-hour charts, neck and neck with popular collections such as Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) and Pudgy Penguins. The “Steamboat Willie” collection has taken the ninth spot on the same list.
In the last 24 hours, all of these NFTs have become the most popular NFTs on OpenSea.
NFT Trends on OpenSea (Source: OpenSea)
Disney’s modern Mickey remains unchanged
Despite the expiration of the copyright for the first Mickey Mouse, Disney emphasizes that this development does not affect the protection of modern versions of the characters.
According to a Disney SpokespersonThe company will continue to protect its copyrights in contemporary versions of Mickey Mouse. In the statement, Disney reaffirms its commitment to avoiding consumer confusion that can result from unauthorized use of its iconic characters.