Entertainment
These notable works enter the public domain in 2026
New Year’s Day commemorates the passing of time and the start of a new chapter, so it is fitting that the same day also presents an opportunity to breathe new life into thousands of creative works nearly a century old. As of Jan. 1, 2026, characters like early Betty Boop and Nancy Drew, and a variety of popular movies, books and songs, are entering the public domain.
They join a growing list of cultural icons that are no longer under copyright protection, including Popeye the Sailor Man and the “Steamboat Willie” version of Mickey Mouse.
List of popular intellectual property entering the public domain in 2026
The year 2026 marks the first time that copyrighted books, films, songs and art published in the ’30s enter the U.S. public domain. As of Jan. 1, protections expire for published works from 1930 and sound recordings from 1925.
Here are some of the most notable works that are becoming available for free use by anyone:
- “The Murder at the Vicarage” by Agatha Christie, the first novel featuring elderly amateur detective Miss Marple.
- “The Secret of the Old Clock” by Carolyn Keene, the first appearance of teen detective Nancy Drew, and three follow-ups.
- “The Little Engine That Could” by Watty Piper.
- Fleischer Studios’ “Dizzy Dishes,” the first cartoon in which Betty Boop appears.
- Disney’s “The Chain Gang” and “The Picnic,” both depicting the earliest versions of Mickey’s dog Pluto.
- The initial four months of “Blondie” comic strips by Chic Young, featuring the earliest iterations of the titular character and her then-boyfriend, Dagwood.
- The film “All Quiet on the Western Front,” directed by Lewis Milestone, Best Picture winner at the 3rd Academy Awards.
- “King of Jazz,” directed by John Murray Anderson, Bing Crosby’s first appearance in a feature film.
- “Animal Crackers,” directed by Victor Heerman and starring the Marx Brothers.
- “The Big Trail,” directed by Raoul Walsh, John Wayne’s first turn as leading man.
- “But Not For Me,” music by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin.
- “Georgia on My Mind,” music by Hoagy Carmichael, lyrics by Stuart Gorrell.
- “Dream a Little Dream of Me,” music by Fabian Andre and Wilbur Schwandt, lyrics by Gus Kahn.
- “Livin’ in the Sunlight, Lovin’ in the Moonlight,” music by Al Sherman, lyrics by Al Lewis.
- Piet Mondrian’s painting, “Composition with Red, Blue, and Yellow.”
How the public domain works
When a work’s copyright protections lapse, it lands in the public domain, allowing anyone to use and build upon it as they see fit for free and without needing permission.
“Copyright gives rights to creators and their descendants that provide incentives to create,” Jennifer Jenkins, director of Duke University’s Center for the Study of the Public Domain, told CBS News’ Lee Cowan in 2024. “But the public domain really is the soil for future creativity.”
The U.S. Constitution’s intellectual property clause establishes that works be protected for a limited amount of time, “to promote the progress of science and useful arts.” The Founding Fathers left it to Congress to sort out the specifics.
Generally, in the U.S., works published or registered before 1978 retain copyright protections for 95 years. For later works, protection usually spans the creator’s lifetime and 70 years after.
“If copyright lasted forever, it would be very difficult for a lot of creators to make the works they want to make without worrying about being in the crosshairs of a copyright lawsuit,” Jenkins said.
Just because a work’s copyright has expired does not mean that members of the public cannot be held legally liable in some instances. For example, while the original Betty Boop from 1930 is in the public domain, the modern version is not. So to avoid infringement, any reuse would need to steer clear of her newer characteristics. Additionally, the character is subject to multiple trademarks, which further complicates its use.
What’s entering the public domain in 2027?
Copyrighted works from 1931 will see their protections expire in 2027. This includes Universal Pictures’ “Frankenstein” and “Dracula” films, Charlie Chaplin’s “City Lights,” Fritz Lang’s “M,” Herman Hupfeld’s jazz standard “As Time Goes By” and more.
The White House stated on Saturday, April 4, to deny all claims related to U.S. President Donald Trump being admitted to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Social media is buzzing with rumours that the 79-year-old president is not in good health.
The speculations started when the White House announced at 11:08 a.m. (local time) that Trump would not make any appearances for the rest of the day.
This is a surprising statement from Trump because he is expected to be at the Mar-a-Lago facility over the weekend, where he plays golf.
The White House immediately responded, declaring that the claim was totally baseless and that Trump had remained committed to his responsibilities.
Health issues have become a consistent theme throughout Trump’s presidency. In particular, his mental and physical ability to serve as president has been brought into question due to several mistakes on his part.
His last known visit to Walter Reed occurred in October when he took an MRI. At that time, Trump said the scan was “perfect.”
In 2025, White House made it public that Trump is suffering from chronic venous insufficiency.
In this condition, veins in the legs struggle to return blood to the heart. However, the doctors assure that the condition is very common in older people.
The U.S. President is also seen wearing cosmetic patches often on the back of his hand.
The White House also denied all these rumours of a possible connection between the disease and cosmetic patches, citing that bruising is due to repeated handshaking, not linked to any vein disease.
The rubbery toy made by Massachusetts-based Schylling, NeeDoh squishies, has unexpectedly gone viral on social media.
The sales of the squishies have skyrocketed, leaving stores empty and resellers charging triple the price.
CEO Paul Weingard reported that the company sold through the entire year’s inventory within the first nine weeks of 2026.
While talking to Business Insider, Weingard said, “Literally within the first nine weeks of the year, we’d sold through the whole year’s inventory. No company can plan for that.”
NeeDoh was introduced by Schylling in 2017, but demand skyrocketed this holiday season after the advent calendar-style pack took off on TikTok and elsewhere online.
Schylling claims that NeeDoh is its biggest-selling product in 52 years.
The toy is priced between $6 to $10, but due to supply chain shortages, resellers on Walmart are selling it for $200.
Where to buy NeeDoh?
The toy is available at Schylling’s official website, the company’s Amazon store, Walmart, and Target. But due to the shutdown of factories in China during the Lunar New Year in February, the company is facing a significant shortage.
Are NeeDoh safe for kids?
According to manufacturers, NeeDosh squishies are manufactured from non-toxic thermoplastic rubber.
Additionally, there’s no BPA, phthalates, or latex. It also complies with U.S. toy safety standards. These standards make it safe for kids.
However, for extra caution, parents are advised not to give squishies to children under 3 years old as they pose choking hazards. The company recommends the toy for ages 5 and up.
There were speculations that Harry, Meghan Markle and their children, Archie, 6, and Lilibet, 4, could return to the UK this summer and meet with King Charles.
However, Harry’s hopes of reconciliation have allegedly been crushed amid mounting pressures on King Charles, 77, who continues to undergo treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer while managing broader challenges.
The latest claims have raised fresh doubts over any imminent royal reconciliation between father-son duo.
From Harry’s point of view, the situation has become deeply upsetting – he feels as though he is being quietly ignored by his father at a moment when he genuinely believed they were beginning to rebuild some form of connection, according to a new report.
An insider claimed to OK!, “He [Harry] is being ghosted and blanked by his own father. It’s devastating for him.”
A royal commentator also revealed that the King had shifted his “focus” elsewhere in recent months.
They said: “There is a growing impression that the King has, to some extent, stepped back from trying to actively engage with the situation. His focus appears to be elsewhere, with a number of pressing responsibilities and concerns taking priority over attempting to resolve matters with Harry.”
In Harry’s view, there are outside influences and pressures shaping how things are unfolding. That perception has deepened his frustration, because it leaves him feeling as though any attempt to rebuild bridges is being complicated by factors he has little or no control over, making progress far harder to achieve.
One insider added: “Harry increasingly senses that what is happening is not just about a breakdown between him and his father, but that there are wider influences and internal dynamics shaping the situation behind the scenes.”
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