But it is only a few years until they have to deal with that and what comes. Disney is preparing ahead of time by excessively using the image of "old style" Mickey to bolster their trademark claim, which conflicts with intent of copyright expiration. I mean, have you seen the amount of merchandise?
This is the first time that copyright and trademark law is going to go up against each other like this. When Steamboat Willie goes public domain, it isn't just that film - but technically, it should also be the character of Mickey (as he appears in it). This is what Disney has worked so hard in the past to keep from happening. There is no way they will be able to extend copyright law again.
Just as when Wizard of Oz went public domain, people were free to write books and create new stories based upon the elements of that first book (but not later books, until they too entered public domain, or elements exclusive to the film, which as we know still are under copyright). That is what would continue to happen as later shorts (that introduced other Mickey elements and characters) became public domain.
By exploiting him as much as they can now, when this comes up they can claim that their trademark is so strong and they are still using that "style" of Mickey (there are like 200 different trademarks around different parts of and variations of Mickey, if I recall) that it should trump the intent of copyright expiration into the public domain.
As Disney has the oldest library of characters, they have always been the first responders when these dates come up. And since there is no Sonny Bono to champion through another "Mickey Mouse Act" in congress this time, everyone will be looking to them to see how these types of conflicts are going to be handled over the next few decades. Disney legal has been planning for this for quite some time.
