These notable works are officially in the public domain as 2026 arrives
CBS News••entertainment
Key Points:
- On January 1, 2026, numerous creative works from the 1930s, including early versions of Betty Boop, Nancy Drew, and several classic films, books, and songs, entered the U.S. public domain, allowing free use without copyright restrictions.
- Notable works now in the public domain include Agatha Christie's "The Murder at the Vicarage," Carolyn Keene's "The Secret of the Old Clock," Fleischer Studios' "Dizzy Dishes," and Disney's early Pluto cartoons, among others.
- The public domain enables unrestricted use of expired copyrighted works, fostering new creativity, though some characters like Betty Boop remain legally protected in their modern forms due to trademarks and updated versions
