Not necessarily. The onus would be upon Disney to prove that the new work is in violation. “Everybody knows Mickey Mouse is Disney” is not a legal argument as t

Not necessarily. The onus would be upon Disney to prove that the new work is in violation. “Everybody knows Mickey Mouse is Disney” is not a legal argument as that’d supersede the entire concept of copyright. Once the copyright expires, the original steamboat Mickey character and likeness can be used it all kinds of things. Violent video games, horror movies, a like of Mickey Mouse furry costumes, … you name it. As long as you stick to the original design (sorry, no white gloves!) and do not in any way label your product as “Disney”, it wouldn’t be in violation.