I try to post something about this every year. This year is no exception.
In the United States, under U.S. copyright law, works published in 1929 and earlier are now in public domain. One can publish them or use them without securing copyright permission. In case you are wondering about the specifics, the Copyright Term Extension Act (passed in 1998) gave works published from 1923 through 1977 a 95-year term limit. They enter public domain on January 1 after the conclusion of the 95th year.
This law applies not only to books but anything under copyright, like films and music.
Notable titles are on this year’s list:
A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf
The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie
Cup of Gold by John Steinbeck (his first novel)
The Roman Hat Mystery by Ellery Queen (the pen name for Frederic Dannay and Manfred B. Lee)
Two well-known characters are now on the list:
Popeye
Buck Rogers
Musical compositions include:
“Singing in the Rain” lyrics by Arthur Freed, music by Nacio Herb Brown
“American in Paris” by George Gershwin
“Bolero” by Maurice Ravel
“Tiptoe Through the Tulips” lyrics by Alfred Dubin, music by Joseph Burke
This means you can write a novel with both Popeye and Buck Rogers as protagonists looking for the Maltese Falcon while singing “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” and use them all without permission.
Please don’t.
Looking ahead, next January 1 the following will enter public domain: Betty Boop, Mickey Mouse’s dog Pluto, detective Nancy Drew, and Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple.
When I flew a Piper Cub
one of its many charms
was that an engine-starting flub
could cause Farewell To Arms.
The prop was swung by hand, you see,
to get the engine going.
No ‘lectric starter, mate, for me,
’cause I know what I’m doing!
Ignition on, hold the brakes
and CONTACT!, here we go!
Yes, my friend, that’s all it takes,
and this fact you should know,
hand-propping is nothing to fear;
there’s way more risk in driving here.
Love it! Especially the comment on driving. So true.
Thanks, Karen!
A novel with both Popeye and Buck Rogers as protagonists looking for the Maltese Falcon while singing “Tiptoe Through the Tulips.”
I know at least one Realmie who would accept that challenge! haha!
To intrigue Popeye is partial,
and Buck Rogers, too,
but they’re waiting for Miss Marple,
and also Nancy Drew
who will join them in domain
of legal public use,
and can then join in refrain
(put on rain-dancin’ shoes!)
of trying to chase down that bird
who’s said to hail from Malta
while they had perhaps preferred
tulip high-step without falter,
but in the end, oh glory be,
they’ll be Yanks in Gay Paree
(to which Miss Marple wears a frown,
“I’ll NEVER let my dear king down!”)
I’m a writer of books about faith, so I don’t think those titles will be of interest. Just wanted to promise you that I won’t even think of writing about Popeye and Buck Rogers as protagonists looking for the Maltese Falcon while singing “Tiptoe Through the Tulips”
Very funny.
LOL What a “NOVEL” idea, Steve. Thanks. LOL
Seriously, thanks for keeping us updated. This is always so helpful.
Too funny! Thanks for this, Steve. You’ve brightened my day! 😊
Wow, I never knew that about copyrights.
I can’t wait until next year, then we can have Betty Boop singing “Singing in the Rain” with Pluto dancing beside her.