"Mickey Mouse Enters Public Domain, Sparking Creative and Legal Frenzy"

Disney has lost copyright protection for the original version of Mickey Mouse, which debuted in 1928's "Steamboat Willie," allowing filmmakers to create horror movies featuring the character, such as "Mickey's Mouse Trap." While Disney still holds rights to later versions of Mickey Mouse and other characters like Donald Duck and Goofy, the lapse in protection for the original Mickey has led to the production of slasher films and video games using the character's likeness. Disney CEO Bob Iger is facing multiple challenges, but the emergence of these low-budget horror adaptations exploiting the now-public domain Mickey Mouse may be a minor issue compared to others.