The 95-year copyright on these classic characters has expired, and that means creators can use and repurpose them without permission or payment.

On January 1, 2026, America's favorite teen detective officially escaped copyright protection. The first four Nancy Drew mysteries from 1930—The Secret of the Old Clock, The Hidden Staircase, The ...

Books featuring a trio of iconic detectives - Nancy Drew, Sam Spade and Miss Marple - are also entering the public domain this year.

We've been getting more Mickey Mouse, Popeye and Winnie the Pooh comic books now that the characters have entered the public domain, where it comes to copyright, if not trademark. And still a little ...

It’s never an easy choice to cut off contact with someone in your family. But as celebrities like Brooklyn Beckham, Meghan ...

News and buildup to today’s FA Cup third-round action, weather disruptions and more ...

Nancy Drew has survived some scary situations. But the slender, attractive sleuth has just entered the most hair-raising of all: the public domain. On New Year’s Day, 95 years of copyright protection ...

The original version of Betty Boop — as seen in this "Dizzy Dishes" cartoon — is one of many works from 1930 entering the public domain in 2026. A new year means a new parade of classic characters and ...