Inverse Ninjas vs. The Public Domain marks one of the first uses of Mickey Mouse in a non-parody-protected legitimate commercial product for a North American market without Disney endorsement, with Mickey's update being planned to come out to the hour of his entrance into the public domain, but releasing early by mistake. The social media account for the game noted that, although the game's concept is quite silly and lighthearted, utilizing the juxtaposition of characters who would typically not be armed wielding guns, and in spite of the long history of counterculture artists highlighting Mickey Mouse for mockery because of the saccharine image he would develop and how it juxtaposes against Disney's cutthroat corporate activities, it was intended as a sincere tribute to the characters featured, rather than a satire or parody, also noting that Mickey Mouse had been depicted wielding guns in earlier Disney cartoons: