Nancy Drew, Betty Boop and more: 26 notable works entering the public domain in 2026
KSL.com••general
Key Points:
- On January 1, 2026, numerous creative works from 1930, including Oscar-winning films, classic books, and iconic characters like Nancy Drew, Betty Boop, and the original version of Pluto, will enter the public domain as their 95-year copyrights expire.
- This public domain expansion allows free access to these works, enabling community theaters, youth orchestras, and others to use them without licensing fees and helps preserve and revive historical art that was previously hard to find.
- Notable literary works entering the public domain include William Faulkner's "As I Lay Dying," Dashiell Hammett's "The Maltese Falcon," and the first Nancy Drew book, "The Secret of the Old Clock,"
