It is a common misconception in 2026 that Winnie-the-Pooh is "not Disney" anymore; rather, the original 1926 version of the character entered the public domain on January 1, 2022. This means that anyone can now use the original A.A. Milne stories and characters (like the specific line drawings by E.H. Shepard) for new creative works, such as the horror film Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey. However, Disney still owns the trademark for the name "Winnie the Pooh" and the copyright for their specific 1966 animated version—the one with the iconic red shirt. You cannot create content that mimics Disney's specific artistic style or uses their unique character additions (like the bouncy version of Tigger, who entered the public domain just recently in 2024). Disney continues to profit from and protect their specific "red-shirt" version of Pooh while the original "classic" version is free for all.