Even though only one very specific version of the character is free to use from "Steamboat Willie", it still represents a positive step for creative expression.
The Gallopin' Gaucho - Wikipedia
First Pooh, now Mickey; In public domain, early Mickey Mouse version will star in horror movies
Mickey Mouse gets horror movie treatment as Disney icon now public domain - NZ Herald
Disney's Earliest Mickey and Minnie Mouse Set to Enter Public Domain
Mickey Mouse Hits Public Domain With Disney's 'Steamboat Willie
Steamboat Willie - Wikipedia
Early Version of Mickey Mouse Enters Public Domain
Earliest Mickey Mouse to enter public domain - Chicago Sun-Times
Notable works entering the public domain in 2024 - WTOP News
Sex, Drugs, and AI Mickey Mouse
We'll Probably Never Free Mickey, But That's Beside the Point
Mickey Mouse in Public Domain: Copyright vs Trademark