Popeye’s very first iteration, who didn’t eat spinach to gain strength, is now free to copy, share, and adapt.
As the calendar flips to 2025, it’s time to celebrate another milestone in the public domain. Thousands of works created in 1929 are now free to be reused, reimagined, and repurposed in the United States. Among this year’s most iconic additions are beloved characters like Popeye and Tintin, who join a treasure trove of literary, cinematic, and artistic gems that shaped the cultural landscape nearly a century ago.
What’s New in the Public Domain?
Thanks to the efforts of Duke Law School’s Center for the Study of Public Domain, we now have a comprehensive list of works that have shed their copyright restrictions. Highlights from 1929 include timeless literary masterpieces, groundbreaking cinematic achievements, and iconic artistic creations that still resonate today. Here are some of the most notable entries:
Classic Films
1929 was a pivotal year in cinematic history as it marked the rise of sound in films. Some of this year’s public domain additions include:
- The Skeleton Dance: The unforgettable Disney Silly Symphonies short that blended eerie and whimsical animation.
- Blackmail: Alfred Hitchcock’s first sound film, a suspenseful masterpiece that foreshadowed his future brilliance.
- Singin’ in the Rain: Nacio Herb Brown’s classic tune, featured in The Hollywood Revue of 1929, a film that also joins the public domain.
- On With the Show: The first all-talking, feature-length color film, a marvel of its time.
Literary Gems
Some of the most iconic works of literature from 1929 are now freely available, including:
- William Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury: A landmark in modernist fiction, renowned for its experimental narrative style.
- Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms: A heart-wrenching tale of love and loss set against the backdrop of World War I.
- Agatha Christie’s The Seven Dials Mystery: Another thrilling whodunit from the queen of crime.
- Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own: An essential feminist text that remains profoundly influential.
Artistic Masterpieces
Fans of surrealism can rejoice as works by Salvador Dali, including Illumined Pleasures, The Accommodations of Desire, and The Great Masturbator, are now free to share, study, and reinterpret.
Welcome, Popeye and Tintin
Popeye: The Sailor with a Punch
Popeye the Sailor Man first appeared in E.C. Segar’s Thimble Theatre comic strip in 1929, debuting in a story titled “Gobs of Work.” While this early version of Popeye didn’t rely on spinach to gain his trademark strength—that didn’t happen until 1932—his gruff charm, sarcasm, and indomitable spirit were already evident. According to Jennifer Jenkins, director of Duke’s Center for the Study of Public Domain, “Everything that he says, all of his characteristics, his personality, his sarcasm… that’s public domain.” However, creators should tread carefully if they want to incorporate spinach as his superpower, as that aspect remains under copyright for now.
Tintin: The Young Reporter’s First Adventures
Hergé’s Les Aventures de Tintin introduced the intrepid reporter Tintin and his loyal dog Snowy (or Milou, for French speakers) to the world in 1929. This earliest version of Tintin, who embarks on thrilling adventures and uncovers mysteries, is now part of the U.S. public domain. However, fans in the European Union will need to wait until 2054 due to copyright laws that protect works for 70 years after the creator’s death; Hergé passed away in 1983.
The Legacy of Extended Copyright Laws
The journey of these works to the public domain has been far from straightforward. In 1998, U.S. lawmakers extended copyright protections by an additional 20 years, delaying the release of works created after 1923. This legislation conveniently protected Disney’s iconic Mickey Mouse. However, Disney’s hold on the Steamboat Willie-era Mickey Mouse ended in 2024, and more Mickey works, including The Karnival Kid, where Mickey first donned his white gloves and spoke his first words (“hot dogs”), will enter the public domain in 2025.
What’s Next?
The release of Popeye and Tintin into the public domain opens up a world of creative possibilities. Expect to see new interpretations of these characters in games, movies, and other media as creators explore their timeless appeal. Just as Winnie the Pooh’s public domain debut inspired fresh takes like the horror film Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey, Popeye and Tintin could similarly spark a wave of innovative projects.
And the excitement doesn’t stop here. Next year, Betty Boop and Pluto will join the public domain, offering even more opportunities to revisit and reinvent classic characters.
A Renaissance for Creativity
The public domain is more than a legal milestone; it’s a celebration of cultural heritage and creative freedom. By making these works freely available, we enable new generations to engage with, reinterpret, and build upon the art and stories of the past. Whether you’re a filmmaker, writer, artist, or fan, the 2025 public domain releases offer endless inspiration. So, what will you create?
