MSCHF is making an artwork of a certain “Famous Mouse.” However, this mouse is currently the protected intellectual property of a certain “Famous Animation Company.”

When a work enters the public domain, anyone can use it freely. Eventually all works are supposed to enter the public domain. Under current copyright law, “eventually” means 95 years after publication.

Mickey Mouse is set to enter the public domain in 2024, at which point MSCHF could make a Mickey Mouse artwork. Today, in 2021, we cannot.

Instead, we are making and selling the idea of a MSCHF “Famous Mouse” artwork now, that will not exist–even as a design–until 2024. If you purchase this artwork, we give you a temporary token with a unique code that can be redeemed for the actual piece in 3 years.

In 2024, tokens can be redeemed through mschfxfamousmouse.com/redeem by entering the unique code on the back of your token. All tokens ship in plastic slab cases and have a tamper-proof sticker over the back of the token. As long as you have the code, you can redeem the token. Anyone can redeem the token, even if they were not the original purchaser. If you acquire a token second-hand, it’s important to make sure the tamper-proof sticker is intact.

We can state factual claims such as “Mickey Mouse, specifically his first Steamboat Willie iteration, is set to enter the public domain in 2024.”

We believe so on the basis of research and expert advice.

Ah, there’s the rub. It is entirely possible that Disney will lobby for changes to U.S .copyright law in order to further hoard their IP. After all, what is the law compared to the power of a U.S. corporation?

If Mickey’s freedom date changes, we will change the token redemption date accordingly. We will notify all original token purchasers if that occurs, as well as update the Famous Mouse website accordingly. The core of MSCHF x Famous Mouse is the ambiguous/hypothetical status of the artwork. If the date changes, MSCHF considers this to also be a part of the piece.