A wide range of iconic cartoons, films, books, and songs released between 1925 and 1930 have officially entered the public domain. This marks a major milestone for artists, educators and cultural institutions.
Under United States copyright law, most creative works receive protection for 95 years after publication, while sound recordings gain 100 years of protection. Consequently, works published in 1930 and sound recordings released in 1925 are now entirely exempt from copyright restrictions.
This change allows creators to legally reuse, adapt and distribute these works without permission or licensing fees. Original films can be screened publicly. Musicians can perform classic compositions, and authors can reinterpret well-known characters and stories in new creative projects.
Jennifer Jenkins, director of Duke Law’s Centre for the Study of the Public Domain, and James Boyle, a law professor and co-director of the centre, explained the significance in a detailed blog post. They noted that public-domain status enables community theatres to screen classic films and youth orchestras to perform historic music at no cost. This greatly expands access to cultural heritage.
When the clock strikes midnight on January 1, creative works from 1930 & sound recordings from 1925 will enter the public domain in the US, like:
💄 Dizzy Dishes, the first appearance of Betty Boop
🔍 The first 4 Nancy Drew novels
🚂 The Little Engine That Could
🤡 Animal… pic.twitter.com/S3UdmiXafr
— Internet Archive (@internetarchive) December 26, 2025Several landmark literary works are now available for free. These include As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner, The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett, and The Murder at the Vicarage, which introduced Miss Marple to readers. The first four Nancy Drew books, written by Mildred Benson under the pen name Carolyn Keene, have also entered the public domain.
Early animated characters have also joined the list. Classic cartoons featuring Betty Boop, Disney’s Pluto, and early versions of Mickey Mouse, Popeye and Winnie-the-Pooh are now free to reuse in their original forms. This includes titles such as Dizzy Dishes, The Chain Gang and The Picnic.
🥳 Welcome to the Public Domain: creative works from 1930 & sound recordings published in 1925! Duke Law's video highlights some of the most anticipated works entering the #publicdomain in 2026!
Learn more ➡️ https://t.co/A45Kgxyhm4@DukeLaw #PublicDomainDay pic.twitter.com/uIuOmWUM30
— Internet Archive (@internetarchive) January 1, 2026Several acclaimed films from the era are now available without restriction. These include Academy Award Best Picture winners All Quiet on the Western Front and Cimarron. Other films, such as King of Jazz, Free and Easy, and Anna Christie, are also available.
Many timeless musical compositions have also entered the public domain, including songs by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin such as I Got Rhythm, I’ve Got a Crush on You, But Not for Me and Embraceable You, along with enduring classics like Georgia on My Mind, Dream a Little Dream of Me and Livin’ in the Sunlight, Lovin’ in the Moonlight.
