Public Domain Day 2026 | Duke University School of Law
web.law.duke.edu
January 1, 2026 is Public Domain Day: Works from 1930 are open to all, as are sound recordings from 1925! By Jennifer Jenkins and James Boyle[1] CC BY 4.0 Please note that this site is only about US law; the copyright terms in other countries are different.[2] On January 1, 2026, thousands of copyrighted works from 1930 enter the US public domain, along with sound recordings from 1925.

Direct quote from the page:

Please note that this site is only about US law; the copyright terms in other countries are different.[2]

On January 1, 2026, thousands of copyrighted works from 1930 enter the US public domain, along with sound recordings from 1925. They will be free for all to copy, share, and build upon

  • sns@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    412·
    3 months ago

    We’ve been robbed of the public domain - pirate everything with a clear conscience.

  • A_norny_mousse@feddit.orgEnglish
    13·
    3 months ago

    I love the use of color in some movie posters and book covers; clearly full color reproduction had not become the default (in public perception) yet:

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  • Cocodapuf@lemmy.worldEnglish
    7·
    3 months ago

    One of the now public films is the war film “Hell’s Angels” (about fighter pilots, not bikers). It’s directed by Howard Hughes, I thought “that’s odd” because he was an airplane designer, not a director; so I looked it up on Wikipedia. The more I read the more Hughes’ project sounded like a parallel to dumb shit Elon is doing, buying a social media outlet… okay, making a major motion picture… sure, firing a third of the company and running it into the ground… predictable, getting several people killed during filming and never recouping the cost of production… wow.

    Hughes has a reputation as an eccentric reclusive genius, he designed some great aircraft, he made a lot of money, but he was problematic whenever he stepped out of his lane. We’re probably lucky he never got into politics.

    But here’s what really caught my eye, (I’ll quote from the Wikipedia page).

    When Paul Mantz, the principal stunt pilot, informed Hughes that a stunt in the final scene was too dangerous, Hughes piloted the aircraft himself, but crashed; he suffered a skull fracture and had to undergo facial surgery as well. Three stunt pilots and a mechanic died in accidents during filming.

    I’m not sure if Hughes really “learned his lesson” from that, but I’m willing to bet that coming that close to death would affect anyone. How do we get Elon to do anything that would actually give him pause? How do we get him a life altering experience (not necessarily a near death experience, but I’m not oppressed to that either)?

  • JensSpahnpasta@feddit.orgEnglish
    82·
    3 months ago

    Just a little warning: US copyright works different than copyright in other countries. So be careful if you’re not living in the land of the crazy orange one and look up your local rules. Publishers will defend their copyrights even if something is public domain in the US.

    • gwl [he/him]@lemmy.blahaj.zoneOPEnglish
      1·
      3 months ago

      No, it’s not, release from copyright is incredibly well protected under law, despite multiple multiple multiple attempts to make it not so.

      It’s one of the few things that’s bipartisan, that once copyright on something finally does end, it should be illegal to sue someone for trying to make something with it

  • MildlyConcerned@lemmy.worldEnglish
    12·
    3 months ago

    AI-Generated Summary:

    • Public Domain Day 2026: On January 1, 2026, works from 1930 and sound recordings from 1925 enter the US public domain, making them freely available for use, sharing, and adaptation. Notable entries include literature like As I Lay Dying and The Maltese Falcon, characters like Betty Boop and Pluto, and films like All Quiet on the Western Front.
    • Cultural and Artistic Impact: The public domain fosters creativity by allowing new works to draw from older ones, as seen in titles like Cakes and Ale, which references Shakespeare. Classic cartoons and films from 1930 reflect diverse styles, from Disney’s wholesome charm to Fleischer Studios’ surreal, edgy aesthetics.
    • Legal and Historical Context: The article clarifies that only the original 1930 versions of characters enter the public domain, while later adaptations remain copyrighted. It also highlights pre-Code Hollywood’s bold content, contrasting it with later censorship under the Hays Code.

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