Expiration Of Copyright Protection: The Mickey Mouse Example

Introduction

Copyright protection only lasts for a limited period. When the protection expires, the work (literary, musical, artistic, photographic, or film) enters the public domain. Public domain refers to the collection of creative materials that are not protected by intellectual property laws such as copyright. Once a work enters the public domain, it can legally be shared, performed, reused, repurposed or sampled without getting permission or cost. The public owns these works, not an individual author or creator.

The expiration of copyright is a relatively uncommon topic of discussion, given its lengthy duration, making it an infrequent occurrence. This IP Watch edition explores the legal considerations surrounding the duration of copyright particularly within the context of Nigerian law, drawing insights from the expiration of Disney's copyright in the Mickey Mouse character in Steamboat Willie.