Betty Boop and Blondie's initial appearances entered the public domain on Jan. 1, joining Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh, as their U.S. copyright reached its maximum of 95 years. This allows creators to use and repurpose these characters without needing permission or payment.
The entry of these characters into the public domain marks another year since 2019 where intellectual property became free for public use, following a 20-year drought caused by congressional copyright extensions. Jennifer Jenkins, a law professor and director of Duke’s Center for the Study of the Public Domain, noted the significance of this year's additions, stating, "It's just the sheer familiarity of all this culture." She added that the works entering the public domain this year reflect the "fragility that was between the two wars and the depths of the Great Depression."
The public domain consists of works no longer under copyright protection, allowing for free use, adaptation, and distribution. Copyright law, designed to protect creators' rights, has a limited duration, after which works enter the public domain. The Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998 extended copyright terms in the United States, leading to the 20-year period where no new works entered the public domain until 2019.
The implications of works entering the public domain are far-reaching. Artists, writers, filmmakers, and other creators can now freely incorporate these characters and stories into their own work, leading to potential new interpretations, adaptations, and creative endeavors. This can enrich culture and provide new avenues for artistic expression.
The release of these characters into the public domain is based on research conducted by Duke’s Center for the Study of the Public Domain. The center celebrates Public Domain Day on New Year's Day each year, highlighting the importance of these works becoming freely available for all to use.
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