Disney Loses Pluto the Dog Next Year, Filing Confirms

The Walt Disney Company is preparing for another significant setback in its ongoing battle with copyright law. Starting in January 2026, the earliest version of Pluto will enter the public domain, marking the third consecutive year that some of Disney’s most treasured characters have become available for public use.

Disney’s Long Fight Against Copyright Expiration

For generations, The Walt Disney Company stood as one of America’s most aggressive advocates for extended copyright protections. The company successfully lobbied Congress in 1998 to pass the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act, which extended the existing copyright term by two decades and established 95-year protections for corporate-owned intellectual property. Critics mockingly dubbed this legislation the “Mickey Mouse Protection Act,” arguing it prevented public access to cultural works and stifled creative freedom.

Despite Disney’s considerable political influence, the company was unable to secure further extensions beyond the 1998 law. January 2024 brought Disney’s nightmare scenario to reality when the Steamboat Willie (1928) version of Mickey Mouse entered the public domain alongside early iterations of Minnie Mouse, Goofy, and other beloved characters. Winnie the Pooh had previously lost copyright protection, becoming one of the first major Disney-associated properties available for unrestricted use.

The market responded immediately to Mickey Mouse’s unprecedented availability. Horror-themed video games, disturbing short films, and adult-oriented merchandise featuring the black-and-white sailor version of Mickey Mouse flooded stores and online platforms within days. In response, Disney issued a stern warning about protecting its more recent character designs:

“More modern versions of Mickey will remain unaffected by the expiration of the Steamboat Willie copyright, and Mickey will continue to play a leading role as a global ambassador for the Walt Disney Company in our storytelling, theme park attractions, and merchandise. We will, of course, continue to protect our rights in the more modern versions of Mickey Mouse and other works that remain subject to copyright, and we will work to safeguard against consumer confusion caused by unauthorized uses of Mickey and our other iconic characters.”

When additional versions of Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and supporting characters entered the public domain in January 2025, The Walt Disney Company remained silent, issuing no public response to the continued erosion of its copyright portfolio. Now, January 2026 approaches, bringing another wave of early Disney characters into public availability.

Pluto Joins the Public Domain

Countless works created in 1930 will enter the public domain next month. Among Disney’s losses is the debut appearance of Pluto, Mickey Mouse’s loyal canine companion. However, Disney will hold onto a key part of the character’s identity until 2027.

The character design recognized today as Pluto first appeared in The Chain Gang (1930), where he played a bloodhound pursuing Mickey Mouse. That same character design returned later in 1930 as Minnie Mouse’s pet “Rover” in The Picnic (1930).

While the visual character design will become publicly available, the name “Pluto” didn’t appear until The Moose Hunt (1931), which won’t enter the public domain until January 2027. For twelve more months, Disney maintains exclusive rights to the character’s name and his established identity as Mickey’s best friend.

Is it wrong for The Walt Disney Company to lose copyright protections for its earliest characters? Share your thoughts with Disney Dining in the comments!