This 2025 marks a milestone for copyright with the entry into the public domain of iconic characters, books, movies and songs, such as Popeye and Tintin, who debuted in 1929. This means that their early versions can be freely used and transformed without licensing or payment. However, iconic elements added later, such as Popeye’s spinach or Tintin’s characteristic red hair, are still protected, which could lead to legal disputes.
In literature, classics such as Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own, William Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury and Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms join the public domain, opening up possibilities for new adaptations and reinterpretations. In film, pioneering sound films by directors such as Alfred Hitchcock and John Ford also became free for reuse. In addition, iconic songs such as Ain’t Misbehavin’ and Singin’ in the Rain expand the cultural repertoire accessible to the public.
This change highlights the importance of the public domain as an engine of innovation and cultural preservation, allowing modern creators to reimagine these works and further their legacy, while highlighting the limits and nuances of the copyright system.
