Public domain 2026: Betty Boop, Pluto, and Nancy Drew set free
TL;DR
The article discusses how works from 1930, including characters like Betty Boop, are entering the public domain in 2026, allowing free use. It highlights a personal anecdote about copyright issues with a 1928 song that is now public domain.
Some years ago, I was writing a science fiction short story in which I wanted to incorporate verses from a 1928 song, "Button Up Your Overcoat." However, when I sold the story, my editor told me that since the song was still copyrighted, it was safer not to include the verses.
If I had written the story today, I could have used them - because the song passed into public domain two years ago.
If you're looking for songs, books, or movies with content you want to use, you are probably examining which of your favorites are headed for the public domain. This year, copyrighted works created in 1930 (except for sound recordings, where the date …