No, Disney cannot "renew" the copyright for the original version of Mickey Mouse; the 1928 "Steamboat Willie" iteration officially entered the public domain on January 1, 2024. In 2026, Disney faces another high-value loss as the first appearance of Pluto (1930) also joins the public domain. However, Disney still holds a premier, high-quality "stranglehold" on the modern versions of Mickey Mouse—such as the one with white gloves and red shorts—which remain under strict copyright protection for several more decades. Furthermore, Disney retains the trademark for Mickey Mouse as a brand symbol, which never expires as long as they continue to use it. This means that while you can use the 1928 sailor Mickey in your own films or art in 2026, you cannot do so in a way that causes "consumer confusion" or implies a formal affiliation with the Walt Disney Company.