Several iconic books and characters are now freely available for public use in the US as of January 1, 2025. This marks a significant year for the public domain, which includes works from 1929 and sound recordings from 1924.
Notable additions to the public domain include Ernest Hemingway’s “A Farewell to Arms,” William Faulkner’s “The Sound and the Fury,” Agatha Christie’s “Seven Dials Mystery,” Erich Maria Remarque’s translated version of “All Quiet on the Western Front,” Patrick Hamilton’s “Rope,” and Walt Disney’s “The Skeleton Dance.” Alfred Hitchcock’s “Blackmail” and King Vidor’s “Hallelujah” are also entering the public domain.
The character of Popeye by E.C. Segar and Tintin by Hergé are making their debut in the public domain, along with classic songs like Nacio Herb Brown’s “Singin’ in the Rain,” George Gershwin’s “An American in Paris,” Joseph Burke’s “Tiptoe Through the Tulips,” and Alfred Dubin’s lyrics. These works were previously protected by copyright but will now be freely available for anyone to use.
The public domain refers to a work that has no copyright protection, allowing anyone to use and build upon it without restrictions or fees. The concept is rooted in the US Constitution, which intended to promote scientific progress and useful arts. Works enter the public domain after their copyright protection expires, typically 95 years for works published before 1978.
While some may think that entering the public domain means “copyright has died,” director Jennifer Jenkins clarifies that it’s simply a different phase of the copyright life cycle. The public domain does not represent the end of intellectual property rights, but rather an opportunity for new creations and interpretations to emerge.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-public-domain-works-2025