[humanrebar]

> If a cartoon character is still in commercial use and being further developed, I'm not sure if it's good practice to turn it into public domain.

Disney doesn't have any issues defending its repackaged public domain products like fairy tales. I don't see why Mickey Mouse would be harder to brand and market than the Disney princesses.

[cptskippy]

At this point he's probably a trademark. Everything by Disney uses Mickey Mouse badges or iconography to identify itself as Disney.

[moate]

IANAL, but the Mouse Ears logo is different than the character himself. Fewer things are branded with Mickey's face.