Actually, as of January 1, 2024, the original version of Tigger did enter the public domain! This occurred because the character first appeared in A.A. Milne's 1928 book, The House at Pooh Corner, and under U.S. law, works published that year lose their copyright protection after 95 years. However, the confusion often arises because only the original literary version of Tigger is free for everyone to use. The "Disney version" of Tigger—the one with the bouncy tail, specific orange-and-black color palette, and the voice provided by Paul Winchell or Jim Cummings—is a derivative work that remains under Disney’s copyright for several more decades. Furthermore, Disney still holds trademarks on the character's name and likeness for use in commercial goods and services. This means that while you can now write a story or make a movie featuring a bouncy tiger named Tigger, your version cannot look exactly like the Disney cartoon or use Disney-exclusive catchphrases without risking a trademark infringement lawsuit. Essentially, the "Idea" of Tigger is public, but the "Disney Brand" of Tigger is still very much protected in 2026.