1. What “public domain” means here
The project’s character references concern works whose U.S. copyrights have expired or otherwise ended, including early published appearances. That does not put every depiction of a character into the public domain. Later drawings, traits, stories, recordings, restorations with new creative material, and branding can have separate protection. A 1930s/1940s visual style does not establish permission to copy everything from that era.
As of 2026, the U.S. Copyright Office explains that works published in the United States before January 1, 1931 are in the U.S. public domain. Copyright terms and other legal protections differ internationally. The website’s availability in another country is not a representation that the same rights analysis applies there.
This page describes the project’s intended reference basis. It is not an independent clearance certificate, legal opinion, or promise that every finished design or use has been legally reviewed. A disclaimer does not cure copying of protected later material or misleading branding.
2. Intended character references
The roster refers to these early versions. The game’s new moves and stories are fictional adaptations, not claims about an official character canon.
| Fighter | Reference basis and boundary |
|---|---|
| Mickey Mouse | The early 1928 character, including Steamboat Willie. Later character developments and studio branding are outside this reference basis. Duke’s Mickey analysis. |
| Minnie Mouse | The early 1928 character appearing with Mickey in Steamboat Willie. The game uses a simplified plain skirt and flowered hat; it does not claim an exact costume replica or rights in later costumes. The publication and examined frames are recorded in the asset provenance. Duke’s 1928 works overview. |
| Oswald | Early 1927–1928 silent-cartoon appearances, rather than later redesigns or modern game portrayals. Duke’s 1927 works overview and 1928 overview. |
| Felix the Cat | The silent-era cat, introduced as Master Tom in Feline Follies (1919), with the rounded black-cat silhouette and expressive tail seen in Felix in Hollywood (1923). The latter is the examined visual reference, not a claim that all features originated in 1919. Later Van Beuren/color and television portrayals, the magic bag, stories and recordings are outside this reference basis. Archived 1923 film. |
| Betty Boop | The 1930 canine character from Dizzy Dishes, with slender hanging ears, rounded cheeks and a small black button nose. The revised drawings omit earrings and the decorative garter. They are new game adaptations, not extracted film frames or a blanket claim to later depictions. Source frames and the original publication date are recorded in the asset provenance. Duke’s Betty Boop/version analysis. |
| Popeye | E. C. Segar’s original 1929–1930 Thimble Theatre comic character. Later animated films, recordings, voices, and redesigns are outside this reference basis. The spinach feature has the separate qualification below. Duke’s Popeye analysis. |
3. Popeye’s spinach feature
Popeye’s 1929 debut and his later spinach-associated strength are different source questions. Enlarged forearms and an anchor tattoo already appear in the original 1929 depiction. The current game includes a spinach power-up with an independently drawn bunch of leaves, rather than a canned-spinach film prop. Duke’s researchers report that the relevant 1931 comic strip’s copyright appears not to have been renewed; they qualify that finding rather than presenting it as certain. Ordinary term expiration for those 1931 materials occurs on January 1, 2027 in the U.S.
The project has not performed an independent renewal search. Its spinach mechanic relies on Duke’s published research, not an assertion that every Popeye feature appeared in 1929 or that the later animated cartoons are public domain. Changing the prop does not resolve that separate source question. This limitation remains relevant to distribution and reuse.
4. Trademarks, endorsement & presentation
Copyright expiration and trademark protection are separate questions. Character names, images, and other marks may continue to identify particular businesses or products. This project claims no ownership of third-party trademarks and offers no permission to use them as your own brand or to suggest official sponsorship.
The game title identifies an independent creative project. Company names in these notices identify the parties with which the project has no affiliation; they are not endorsements or licenses. No studio logos, official character recordings, or official theme songs are included. Duke explains the copyright/trademark distinction and the importance of avoiding confusion about source or sponsorship.
No independent trademark clearance or international-rights review has been completed. The finished character artwork and marketing also need their own review; the project’s title and these notices do not substitute for that work.
5. Game assets, authorship & reuse
The character animation is script-authored digital vector cel-style artwork made for the game, not extracted historic film frames or hand-painted traditional cels. Stage paintings were generated for the project, with separate Canvas animation. Music and sound effects are original software synthesis, not historic recordings, sampled cartoon voices, or recordings of live musicians. Ending stories were written for this game.
Sources and creation methods are documented in the repository’s asset provenance record. Creating a new drawing does not by itself establish clearance of an underlying character. Generated imagery is not represented here as automatically copyrightable or free of all possible rights claims.
No exclusive rights are claimed in underlying public-domain material. Newly contributed material and third-party components may have separate rights or license terms. A publicly accessible GitHub repository and the words “Public Domain” in the game’s title do not, by themselves, place all source code, art, or music in the public domain. Follow any applicable license for the particular material; this page does not grant additional licenses or warrant rights for redistribution or commercial use.
6. Playing the game
This is fictional cartoon combat for entertainment. It includes stylized fighting, flashing impact effects, moving backgrounds, and sound. Adjust sound and use your device’s reduced-motion preference as appropriate. Reduced motion limits ambient animation and camera shake; combat still has moving and changing images. Stop playing if the effects cause discomfort.
The game has no official age-rating certification stated here. Parents and guardians should consider its content and supervise links to external services. Gameplay is not instruction or encouragement to imitate violence in real life. The privacy policy explains local saves, network providers, and privacy choices.
7. Availability, warranties & liability
The game is provided “as is” and “as available.” To the extent permitted by applicable law, the maintainer makes no warranty of uninterrupted availability, compatibility, error-free operation, saved-progress retention, or suitability for a particular purpose. Features may change, and browser or device changes can affect play and local saves.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, the maintainer excludes liability for indirect or consequential loss arising from use of, or inability to use, the game. Nothing in this notice excludes or limits liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited, or overrides mandatory consumer or privacy rights. This notice does not require arbitration, select a court, or create a paid service agreement.
8. Rights questions, corrections & contact
The project is maintained independently through AaronFaby/pdcf. Raise source corrections, attribution issues, privacy questions, or rights concerns through GitHub Issues. When reporting a rights concern, identify the relevant game page or asset, the source work or mark, and the issue you want reviewed.
Issues are public and posting requires a GitHub account. No public email address is listed. Do not post private personal information, identity documents, or confidential legal materials. If needed, first ask how to arrange an appropriate private channel. This is a general project contact route, not a representation that the maintainer has registered a statutory takedown agent.
These notices may be revised as research, assets, features, or applicable requirements change. The update date above identifies this version.