Tintin & Popeye & More Entering US Public Domain in 2025
As 2025 begins, iconic cultural works are set to enter the US public domain, allowing unrestricted access and use by the public. These include internationally celebrated characters and literary masterpieces such as Tintin, Popeye the Sailor, and Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms. Under US copyright law, works are protected for 95 years, after which they become public domain, making them available for reproduction, sharing, and adaptation without the need for permission or royalty payments.
Beloved Characters and Literary Giants
This year’s public domain additions feature the early adventures of the comic character Tintin, who debuted in a Belgian newspaper in 1929, and Popeye the Sailor, created by cartoonist Elzie Crisler Segar. Alongside these iconic figures, notable literary works include The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner, Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own, and the first English translation of All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque.
These additions highlight the diverse range of cultural and artistic contributions from 1929, which are now accessible for creative reinterpretation.
Films and Music Joining the Public Domain
Classic films such as Alfred Hitchcock’s Blackmail and John Ford’s The Black Watch, his first sound film, are also among the notable cinematic works losing copyright protection.
In the realm of music, compositions published in 1929, including Maurice Ravel’s Bolero and George Gershwin’s An American in Paris, will enter the public domain. However, recordings from these works will remain protected unless they date back to 1924 or earlier, per US copyright regulations.
Public Domain
Each year, the Center for the Study of the Public Domain at Duke University compiles a list of works entering the public domain, celebrating their availability for creative and educational purposes. The center’s director, Jennifer Jenkins, noted the inclusion of characters such as the original Mickey Mouse and Winnie-the-Pooh in past years, and highlighted the continued addition of beloved figures like Tintin and Popeye.
By entering the public domain, these works can inspire new adaptations, reinterpretations, and artistic projects, breathing new life into timeless classics.
Also See:
Trump Support for H-1B Divides MAGA Base
1-800-ChatGPT: OpenAI’s Voice Service Wows Americans
Tech Leaders and MAGA Supporters Clash over H1B
Osamu Suzuki, Visionary Behind Suzuki Motor’s Global Success, Passes Away at 94
