Final answer:
Mickey Mouse's copyright protection was extended by the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act from 75 years to 95 years after publication, meaning Mickey Mouse will enter the public domain in 2024.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mickey Mouse, the iconic character created by Walt Disney in 1928, is currently protected by copyright law. Originally, the copyright for Mickey Mouse was set to expire in 2003. However, with the passage of the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act in 1998, copyright protection for works owned by companies was extended from 75 years to 95 years after publication. This act effectively prolonged Mickey Mouse's copyright protection, which now means that Mickey Mouse will enter the public domain in 2024, 95 years after his first appearance in Steamboat Willie in 1928.