January 4, 2026
Betty Boop, Nancy Drew free to creators as they enter public domain
Betty Boop, Nancy Drew free to creators as they enter public domain Iconic cartoons, movies, songs and books released in 1925 – 1930 are now all in the public domain. In United States copyright law, copyright lasts for 95 years after a work is created and 100 years for sound recordings. Therefore, on January 1, works from 1930 and recordings from 1925 entered the public domain. This means artists can reinterpret these elements in new works, movie theaters can screen the original movies for free, and more. Jennifer Jenkins, Director of Duke Law’s Center for the Study of the Public




