US EditionBetty Boop and ‘Blondie’ Enter the Public Domain in 2026, Accompanied by a Trio of Detectives
The expiration of 95-year U.S. copyrights on Jan. 1, 2026, frees iconic characters and works for public use, says Duke's Center for the Study of the Public Domain.
- On Jan. 1, 2026, Betty Boop and Blondie join the U.S. public domain, along with detectives Nancy Drew, Sam Spade and Miss Marple.
- Because the statutory copyright term expired, Jennifer Jenkins and Duke's Center for the Study of the Public Domain catalogued this year's entrants as a big Public Domain Day.
- Originally, Betty Boop first appears in the short `Dizzy Dishes` as an unnamed dog-like performer, while Blondie Boopadoop debuted as a flapper who married Dagwood Bumstead and shifted to domestic comedy.
- Artists are now free to reuse earliest versions without permission, but trademarks and commercial licensing still restrict merchandise, with Fleischer Studios maintaining Betty Boop rights.
- The 2026 cohort also contains George and Ira Gershwin songs and Marx Brothers films including Animal Crackers, though it lacks Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh's flash; 1931 Universal Pictures films arrive in 2027.
116 Articles
116 Articles
PBS NewsHour
Betty Boop, Blondie and Nancy Drew enter the public domain in 2026
Betty Boop and “Blondie” are among the highlights of titles entering the public domain with the arrival of 2026.
Public domain 2026: Betty Boop, Pluto, and Nancy Drew set free
Betty Boop made her debut as an anthropomorphic dog in Dizzy Dishes. | Image: Fleischer Studios Some years ago, I was writing a science fiction short story in which I wanted to incorporate verses from a 1928 song, "Button Up Your Overcoat." However, when I sold the story, my editor told me that since the song was still copyrighted, it was safer not to include the verses. If I had written the story today, I could have used them - because the son…
Betty Boop enters the public domain, but only as a dog
Betty Boop is one of the most iconic cartoons of the 20th century. A pinup drawn to look like a 1920s flapper, the character debuted nearly a century ago and quickly became a household name: In 1932, just two years after her debut, one newspaper article dubbed Betty Boop "without question…the most popular film personage on the screen today." Today, the character enters the public domain, meaning it's free for anyone to use—but perhaps only as a …
Some of the cultural works entering the public domain in 2026
A look at some of the works going into the public domain in 2026, like the characters Betty Boop and Miss Marple, the first film adaptation of "All Quiet on the Western Front" and many classic songs by George & Ira Gershwin.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 61% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
