Mickey Mouse is now public domain (Steamboat Willie specifically). What do you think we will see this year?

Steamboat Willy in "Steamboat Willy Recites Racist Quotes from Walt Disney"

I hope so 🙏🙏🙏
Who knew twitters username on Lemmy was gibmiser

I predict a complete overhaul of our trademark and copyright laws that will accommodate Disney's desires.

You know... Basically what they did last time.

Too late for copyright laws, it's in the public domain and can't go back afaik. Now trademark laws can be interesting.
- Oh, they already managed to "fix" copyright retroactively once.
Doing that for Trademark law is why they didn't bother lobbying for longer copyright this time. They could protect their Mouse trademark without relying on Steamboat Willy like they did before.

Quite honestly: nothing. Some folks might deliberately use Steamboat Willie in some content because they can, and Disney will likely try and attack some of those people in court based on trademark law if applicable.

But I don't really see a lot of actual utility in the Steamboat Willie character, outside of Disney itself. Any use of it is ultimately just referring to the "I can do this now" aspect of having just entered public domain, which frankly isn't that interesting.

Saw ONE design of the character on Twitter that actually made for an interesting idea that could be expanded upon, there IS space for someone to do smth cool about it but I honestly don't think anyone will. Hey, Toontown Rewritten could model this Mickey and use it for something I guess.
But I don’t really see a lot of actual utility in the Steamboat Willy character
Could he be used to sell riverboat cruises?

I forsee a Trademark problem that many didn't expect, and Disney trying to defend their copyright by saying that they used the same version in a Mickey Mouse cartoon in 2023.

I foresaw the trademark thing and so have many others. But that doesn't restrict as much as the recently-expired copyright does. Mostly the continuing trademark means that one can't use the Steamboat Willie Mickey Mouse in a way that misleads people that your own work is by Disney.
About the thing about Disney claiming that because they used Steamboat Willie Mickey in more recent woks they can still claim copyright protections on elements of Mickey Mouse that were a thing in Steamboat Willie, I really don't think copyright works like that.
All that said, Disney has a rabid legal team and lots of experience at lobbying congress. Who knows what they're capable of. It's possible they'd try to pull some major fast one and make copyright and/or trademark work differently than they do today.
- I foresaw the trademark thing About the thing about Disney claiming that because they used Steamboat Willie Mickey in more recent woks they can still claim copyright protections on elements of Mickey Mouse that were a thing in Steamboat Willie, I really don't think copyright works like that.
  Mickey in Steamboat Willie just looks... odd.
  The 'normal' Mickey is still under copyright so not a lot was gained through Steambiat Willie losing copyright protection.
Well the copyright has expired, there's no defending it afaik. People can use it even if Disney is using it afaik.
Trademark is more like logos. It will be interesting to see what they will try to defend under it.
In 2013 Walt Disney Animation Studios released a theatrical short called “Get a Horse!” which features 1920s era Mickey complete with archival audio of Walt as Mickey (and others who voiced him then) as well as renditions of other classic era Disney characters including Minnie, Pete, Horace, and Oswald. Heck, even the logo for WDAS in that sort is Mickey whistling in Steamboat Willie.
It’s a pretty decent short too, even if you know nothing about Disney. And it played before Frozen in the cinema, 4th highest-grossing animation of all time.
I remember at the time thinking whether they might be doing it to try and protect their rights. I’m no lawyer though.