As of January 1, new works entered the public domain allowing others to freely use and share them. The works that entered the public domain this year are those whose copyright expired and include film, literary works, music, and other media published in 1929. Their inclusion in the public domain gives the public a growing repertoire of works which can be used to create and adapt into new works. As a stated mission of copyright protection, ownership rights coming to an end furthers copyright law’s goal of promoting creativity.
The Public Domain
The public domain is a source of creative works that are not protected under copyright law. Typically, the copyright protection has expired, but the public domain also includes works that predate copyright laws. Some of the most famous works in the public domain include literary works such as Frankenstein by Mary Shelly and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and original musical works such as “Camptown Races” and “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”
New Works
Among the works welcomed to the public domain this year are the original Popeye the Sailor Man character and animations of the original Mickey Mouse. Also welcomed to the public domain is the Marx Brothers’ film The Cocoanuts and literary works including A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf, The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner, and A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway. Well known musical works such as “Singin’ in the Rain” by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown, “Honeysuckle Rose” by Andy Razaf and Thomas “Fats” Waller, and “Rhapsody in Blue” recorded by George Gershwin also entered the public domain this year. It is important to note that while these works exist in the public domain for others to use, there may still be other versions or translations that are still protected under copyright law. For example, while the musical composition for “Singin’ in the Rain” can be used for interpolation in a new composition without having to obtain a copyright holder’s permission, the recorded version of “Singin’ in the Rain” made famous by Gene Kelly is not yet in the public domain. Anyone wishing to use this recorded version still needs to obtain permission.
Why Does the Public Domain Matter?
Works that enter the public domain are free for anyone to use. This means creators can reimagine these works in new mediums such as film, music, and visual art, which in turn fosters and promotes creativity. The rolling off of copyright protection assures artists that a constant stream of old material will become free to use as contemporary artists may like in creating complements or contrasts to historical genres.
Beyond an artists’ use for a new work, public domain works are an integral part of the broader artistic and cultural community. Local music venues and concert halls can perform public domain works without facing cost-prohibitive licensing fees. Small theaters can screen classic films from the public domain, which not only allows the theaters to stay open and operating but provides the surrounding community with the opportunity to experience different artistic expression. The ability to use the public domain also introduces older works to new people, which can facilitate renewed interest and allow dialogue around the history and evolution of a particular artistic medium.
With 2025’s new additions to the public domain, we are reminded that the public domain invites us to reflect on artistic contributions of the past and consider their cultural and historical impact.
