The new year brings additions to the public domain, allowing creators and fans alike to freely use iconic works that were once locked behind copyright protections. Many of these will most likely be turned into cheap and stupid low-budget horror films.
In 2025, beloved characters like Popeye and even more Mickey Mouse properties are joining the public domain, marking a pivotal moment for pop culture enthusiasts.
Last year, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse entered the public domain through their debut appearance in Disney’s Steamboat Willie (1928), 95 years after the animated short’s release.
However, key elements like Mickey’s iconic white gloves weren’t included—they didn’t appear until 1929. Now, with the copyright expiration of Mickey’s talking debut in The Karnival Kid and 11 other shorts, the white gloves are officially free for public use.
This broadens the scope of how Mickey Mouse can be incorporated into new projects and creative endeavors.
Joining Mickey is Popeye, the spinach-loving sailor who made his first appearance in E.C. Segar’s Thimble Theatre comic strip “Gobs of Work.” With Popeye’s entry into the public domain, this iconic character is sure to inspire a new wave of stories, adaptations, and fan creations.
On top of that, Walt Disney’s first Silly Symphony short, The Skeleton Dance (1929), directed by Walt Disney and animated by Ub Iwerks, is also now available for free use. This is an eerie, fun, and timeless classic that some people are sure to ruin.
Beyond animation, 2025 sees several other works from 1929 and sound recordings from 1924 becoming public domain. Literary classics like Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms and Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials Mystery are now available for creative reinterpretation.
The mechanics of the public domain are rooted in the U.S. Constitution’s intellectual property clause, which aims “to promote the progress of science and useful arts.”
Copyright protections last for a defined period, and when they expire, works enter the public domain, allowing anyone to build upon them freely.
Looking ahead, 2026 will bring even more iconic additions, including Betty Boop, Mickey Mouse’s loyal companion Pluto, Clarabelle Cow, and Nancy Drew.
