It's January, and for those in the United States, it signifies the annual arrival of another collection of iconic creations entering the public domain. Since 2019, this momentous transition has allowed the public to freely publish, modify, and adapt works that were once locked behind a copyright curtain, without the hassle of royalty payments or rights clearances.

This year’s newfound public domain gems span an impressive array of categories: books, plays, films, artwork, and musical compositions from 1929, as well as sound recordings dating back to 1924. Due to the 1998 Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act, most works published from 1923 onward have their copyrights extended to 95 years, meaning the inflow of public domain content was significantly delayed for two decades.

As always, the Duke University Center for the Study of the Public Domain has compiled a list of the most noteworthy inclusions. Among the significant novels making their debut in the public domain this year are Ernest Hemingway's poignant Farewell to Arms, the groundbreaking first English translation of Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front, Agatha Christie's clever The Seven Dials Mystery, Virginia Woolf's feminist essay A Room of One's Own, and William Faulkner's complex narrative The Sound and the Fury.

Film enthusiasts will be excited to discover that many movies from 1929 were pivotal in the evolution of cinema to include sound. Landmark titles include On With the Show!, Warner Bros.' groundbreaking all-color feature-length film, as well as iconic works from legendary directors like Cecil B. DeMille and Alfred Hitchcock. Fans can also catch Buster Keaton’s final silent film, Spite Marriage, alongside classic musical scores like Singin' in the Rain and Tiptoe Through the Tulips.

Disney aficionados will find delight in the Silly Symphony short The Skeleton Dance, along with a dozen other early Mickey Mouse shorts. This includes the first appearances of Mickey adorned with white gloves, as well as the first instances of his speaking character. Since only the 1920s portrayals of these beloved characters have now entered the public domain, this presents exciting potential for creators interested in avoiding infringement issues with Disney.

While the characters entering the public domain this year may not carry the monumental weight of Steamboat Willie or Mickey Mouse from 2024, we still see the introduction of cultural icons like a version of Popeye the Sailor, alongside the original Belgian adventurer, Tintin. The specifics of Popeye's public domain status are still up for debate, as he didn't gain his spinach-fueled powers until 1931, raising questions about whether his earlier iterations may have slipped through the copyright cracks.

The article from Duke University, penned by Jennifer Jenkins and James Boyle, underscores the significance of this year's contributions to the public domain. It also highlights contemporary works that have drawn inspiration from these treasures. Notable examples include the critically acclaimed stage adaptation Wicked, which translates Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel that spins a fresh take on The Wizard of Oz, and Percival Everett's James, a compelling retelling of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through the eyes of Jim, a runaway slave.

As the curtain lifts on these cultural masterpieces, 2024 promises a wealth of artistic freedom and creativity for filmmakers, authors, and artists alike. So, what will you create from this new bounty of public domain works? The possibilities are endless!