* Acquire rights: Disney purchases the rights to characters from their creators or previous owners.
* Rights expire: The copyright on a character eventually expires, making the character available for public use.
With that in mind, here are some examples:
* Mickey Mouse: Disney's most famous character, Mickey Mouse, was originally created by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. Mickey Mouse is not in the public domain yet. Disney's copyright on Mickey Mouse has been extended multiple times through copyright renewals and lobbying efforts. It is expected to remain under Disney's control for several more decades.
* Superman: Disney never owned the rights to Superman. Superman was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster and the rights are currently owned by Warner Bros. Discovery.
* Winnie the Pooh: Disney initially held the rights to Winnie the Pooh, but those rights expired in 2022. This means Winnie the Pooh and his friends are now in the public domain, meaning anyone can use them without permission.
* Snow White: Disney does not own the original story of Snow White. The Brothers Grimm published their fairy tale in 1812. Disney only owns the rights to their 1937 film adaptation of the story.
It's important to note that the specific rights Disney owns can vary. For example, Disney may own the copyright to a specific character design or movie adaptation, but not the underlying story itself.