Never heard of “Steamboat Itchy” and just watched a few of Itchy’s cartoons.
You’re right - Mickey is a ripoff.
And Itchy has no humor, just senseless violence. Pretty wild!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-BgOC39NM8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r59muwrBa3M (1919)
You don’t hear Hitler kicking about Indians using his name to sell ice cream.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3097640/The-Luft-wafer-Ice-cream-cone-named-Adolf-Hitler-sale-India-sparks-anger-Germany.html
The Germans are fuehurious though.