As 2023 Begins, These Properties Will Enter The Public Domain
Image Source: Slant Magazine
Happy Public Domain Day, everyone!
As it does every year on January 1st, numerous copyrighted works from 1927 will enter the public domain. These works will be free to use, copy, build upon, and share.
Duke University’s School of Law provides a brief yet simplified explanation of how copyright and public domain works:
“Our featured works are only entering the public domain under US copyright law, where works published before 1978 are public domain on January 1, the year after the conclusion of a 95-year copyright term, so long as they complied with copyright’s notice and renewal requirements. Doing the math, works from 1927 were copyrighted for 95 years—through 2022—and are in the public domain January 1, 2023.”
This year’s class has a few gems that folks are sure to take full advantage of creatively. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights.
Movies
Metropolis- Fritz Lang’s science fiction masterpiece officially enters the public domain, although several versions have been available on YouTube for several years.
The Jazz Singer- The film that marked the end of the silent film era by being the first full-length feature film with synchronized dialogue.
7th Heaven- Starring Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell, this romantic silent film served as the inspiration for the ending of La La Land.
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Books
Amerika by Franz Kafka, but only in its original German. Other translations are still under copyright.
The Gangs of New York by Herbert Ashbury, which serves as the source material for Martin Scorsese’s 2002 film starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes, the final Sherlock Holmes stories left under copyright.
Musical Compositions
“The Best Things in Life are Free” by George Gard De Sylva, Lew Brown, Ray Henderson from the musical Good News.
“Funny Face” and “’S Wonderful” by Ira and George Gershwin from the musical Funny Face
Early blues recordings, including “Backwater Blues” and “Preachin’ the Blues” by Bessie Smith, and “Potato Head Blues” and “Gully Low Blues” by Louis Armstrong.
While this list is clearly not everything that is entering the public domain in 2023, it also gives us a glimpse at what’s to come in the near future. Walt Disney’s early version of Mickey Mouse, Steamboat Willie, will enter the public domain next year in 2024. We’ll see how the House of Mouse handles that property.
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