Copyright has an expiration date: the original version of Mickey Mouse is now in the public domain

If you’re the creative type and struggling to find your next idea, fear not: some notable works, including the original version of Mickey Mouse, enter the public domain on January 1 in the United States.

And if, however, you prefer your Disney characters to be cute, cuddly and never change, well… maybe you should stop reading.

In 2024, Thousands of copyrighted works published in 1928 will enter the public domainonce his 95-year term expired.

This means that those characters and those stories can be remade – on the printed page, on stage or on the screen – without permission. (I finally get to do that Peter Pan musical where a middle-aged Peter complains of inexplicable back pain at the end of the act.)

“It’s important for the preservation of our cultural heritage, for meaningful access to older works to inspire future creativity,” explained Jennifer Jenkins, director of the Center for the Study of the Public Domain at Duke Law School.

The “crème de la crème” of this year’s public domain class are Mickey Mouse and, of course, Minnie Mouse, or at least the black-and-white versions of our favorite squeaky rodents that appeared in “Steamboat Willie.”

Disney is famous for its litigation and these royalties only cover the original versions of the character.

The New York Times reached out to some writers, producers and directors to give you a taste of what might be unleashed in this strange new world.

Even William II and Tigger?

Tigger is also out January 1st and soon he may reunite with Winnie the Pooh in the next film of the reborn character. Yes, you read that correctly. In a preview of what might await other 95-year-old icons, the silly old bear became a monster with a bat in “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey.” The sequel is scheduled for February.

“The original ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ was fine, but the horror of modern warfare will be illustrated much better with a new crossover version in which Mickey and Tigger trick the Kaiser into getting trapped in a mop bucket.” said Zhubin Parang , co-executive producer of “The Daily Show.”

“All Quiet on the Western Front,” at least the original German version of the novel, is also entering the public domain, although subsequent translations are not…yet.

Peter Pan, Orlando and many others

Then there is the stage version of “Peter Pan” by JM Barrie; or the boy who didn’t want to grow up”, the novel by DH Lawrence, “Lady Chatterley’s Lover”, “Orlando: a biography” by Virginia Woolf, the picture book by Wanda Gág, “Millions of Cats” and many others. (For a complete list, see here.)

“It bothers me a lot that we’re probably going to have more Peter Pan material now,” said comedy writer and producer Josh Lieb. “Nobody likes Peter Pan. In fact, I think I speak for all of humanity when I say we hate Peter Pan and we hate people who make movies about him.”

Not everyone hates Peter Pan; I’m sorry, Josh. Bob Greenblatt, producer of the Broadway-bound musical “Smash,” requested a new stage adaptation starring Daniel Radcliffe as Peter, Lindsay Mendez as Wendy and Jonathan Groff as Captain Hook.

Actor Nik Dodani also had an idea for the film Peter Pan.

“When Wendy meets Peter, a charismatic and seemingly ageless young man, she is drawn into a haunted nightmare journey, which reveals the sinister truth behind her eternal youth,” Dodani said. (We couldn’t publish the sinister truth. You’ll have to wait and see the movie.)

And the music?

Musical compositions will also be published, such as the original version of “Mack the Knife”, written in German for Bertolt Brecht’s opera “The Threepenny Opera”, and musical recordings, such as “Dippermouth Blues”, by Luis Armstrong , will also be released this January 1st.

“I often fantasize about the golden age of sampling, when you could seemingly create the greatest riffs of all time with impunity. I’m looking at you, ‘Can I kick it? ‘” said Ryan Miller, founding member of the band Guster, referring to A Tribe’s song Called Quest.

January 1, also known as Emancipation Day, is now an annual ritual to dig mines with a minimum of guilt. I mean, who doesn’t need a new interpretation of “Yes!” We don’t have bananas? “Do not answer.” (The song “Yes! We Have No Bananas” by Billy Jones is also available on the first day of 2024.)

I still have no ideas, help!

There is nothing to worry about. It’s in the public domain! Freedom! They can steal! Gordon Greenberg, who will direct a Huey Lewis-inspired Broadway musical this spring, said this was an opportunity to “reimagine some classics from new points of view.”

Playwright Lindsey Ferrentino proposed a combination of titles.

“Maybe a production of ‘Threepenny Opera’ with Mackie Messer’s character recast as Mickey Mouse. Very Brechtian,” Ferrentino said. “But don’t ask me to write it down.”

The thrilling “Lady Chatterley’s Lover” attracted a lot of interest. Neil Meron, producer of the Broadway musical “Some Like It Hot,” suggested an “engaging and genre-fluid” musical adaptation with a score by Sam Smith.

“Late Night With Seth Meyers” writer Karen Chee hosted “Lady Chatterley’s Millions of Cats.” Ah, but let’s develop it! Chee added: “A lonely wife who gives up sexy times to adopt millions of cats.”

From Bob Gale, co-writer of the film and musical version of “Back to the Future”: “Is Mickey Lady Chatterley the new lover or just a voyeur?”

EM Tran, a novelist, was intrigued by the musical “Millions of Cats.”

“Just dozens, or millions, of puppet cats on stage with an old couple singing and dancing,” Tran said. Kristoffer Diaz, the playwright, agrees, saying the musical “writes itself.”

Comedian Gabby Bryan requested an updated recording of “The Charleston,” but with Mark Ronson testing James P. Johnson’s version.

“He did disco, he did dance, he did blues, he did country, he did Ken,” Bryan said, referring to Ronson. “So I challenge you this Mark, if that’s your real name.”

And if that’s still not enough to get you started, wait. In the next decade, freedom awaits all these characters, such as Popeye, Pluto, Donald Duck, King Kong (the original film version), Superman, Daffy Duck, James Bond, Batman, Captain Marvel.

Let’s get to work, folks. And remember: “Freedom is just another word for having nothing to lose.”*

Fountain: The New York Times