The joys of childhood, which began with the creative imagination brought to us through cartoons, opened up a world of limitless possibilities. Before we knew it, these cartoons became the beautiful elements of nostalgia that we are almost always grateful and blessed to have. Everyone has that one favourite cartoon character they wish they could meet in a movie or series or bring to life. When that wasn’t possible, we settled for merchandise—pictures, toys, adorable stickers, and countless other little things that kept those characters close to our hearts.
But when we think about the people who first created these iconic characters, how do these creations even become so widespread? How are classic cartoons reproduced and made available to new generations? While some retain exclusive rights for reproduction and creative adaptations held by their original creators or copyright owners, others fall into the public domain. This allows them to be freely copied, adapted and shared without permission from the original owner. Such is the case for beloved characters like Popeye the Sailor and Tintin from The Adventures of Tintin.
In this blog, we will explore the significance of classic characters like Popeye and Tintin entering the public domain. What does it mean for a character to become part of the public domain? Which other characters have already entered this space? And most importantly, does the entirety of intellectual property rights get nullified when a character transitions into the public domain?
What Happens When Cartoons Enter the Public Domain?
Before deep diving into what the public domain is and how it aligns with intellectual property (IP) related to the creative characters of their originators, one must first understand the concept itself. Public domain, as a legal principle or practice, can be seen as a “premise.” To explain the how-to part of it, imagine it like this: creative works, once granted IP protection through copyright [Copyright protection is granted to original literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, as well as cinematographic films and sound recordings. It provides exclusive ownership of the creation to the original author, safeguarding their rights to distribute and adapt their work, while also ensuring they receive due recognition and financial benefits.]—either at the time of creation or via explicit transfer of rights to another party—are placed on a conveyor belt, much like the one seen at a supermarket. This conveyor belt represents the passage of time, operating as the years go by.
Once a work reaches the “billing counter,” or the expiration of its defined IP protection period, the copyright fades, and the creation enters the basket of the public domain. However, it’s important to note another layer of understanding when dealing with public domain cases. It’s entirely possible for a part of a character to enter the public domain while other significant features or elements remain protected due to delayed publishing or subsequent additions, effectively resetting the clock on those aspects.
Mickey Mouse in 2025: What’s Actually Free to Use?
For example, let’s return to Mickey Mouse. The public domain version of Mickey will gradually become more recognizable as additional features associated with him lose their copyright protection over time. When Mickey first appeared, he didn’t have his iconic white gloves. However, as twelve additional Mickey cartoons recently entered the public domain, we now see Mickey wearing his gloves in these works. He also speaks for the first time, uttering the iconic “Hot dogs! Hot dogs!”—a significant moment, as he no longer has to remain silent.
Now that the concept of public domain has been explained, the one-line legal definition of public domain would be: public domain characters are those whose intellectual property protections have expired, meaning they are no longer covered by copyright law. This occurs when the copyright term for a character expires, which depends on when the work was created and published. This also means there is no longer a need to seek permission to copy or use works that fall within the public domain. However, it’s important to note that copyright terms differ across countries.
Until the 1970s, copyright terms in the United States lasted only 56 years. With the Copyright Act of 1976, Congress extended the period to 75 years for corporate copyrights or the author’s life plus 50 years for works created before 1978. Later, in 1998, the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act added another 20 years to both terms. This act is often derisively referred to as the “Mickey Mouse Protection Act” because Disney played a significant role in lobbying for the extension, just as Mickey Mouse’s copyright was set to expire in 2003.
Another quintessential element here is noted by the U.S. Copyright Office, which states that, as a “general rule for works created after January 1, 1978, copyright protection lasts for the life of the author plus an additional 70 years.” This means that most works created and published before 1978 will enter the public domain 95 years after their publication date, or the creator’s life plus 70 years.
Now, this begs the question: is the entirety of the creation free for all? As explained with the conveyor belt example, the answer is no. Another manifestation of public domain usage is that just because a character has entered the public domain, it doesn’t mean that all reproductions or changes made to the character are freely available for use. Progressive changes and updates to creations remain well-protected under copyright law, starting from the date of the creation of that update.
As Michael Grothaus explained in Fast Company, just because a character enters the public domain, “doesn’t mean anyone can use the character however they wish.” New projects can only use public domain characters as they existed 95 years ago. For example, when Superman enters the public domain in 2033, any new variations of the character must be based on how he appeared in DC Comics’ Action Comics #1 in 1938. At that time, Superman couldn’t fly, and his costume was noticeably different from the iconic suit we know today. If someone were to create a Superman movie in 2033 in which he could fly, Warner Bros. could have a case for copyright infringement, as the ability to fly was added later in Superman’s mythology. Warner Bros. would still own the copyright for that updated version of the character, as Grothaus explained.
Popeye & Tintin: Nostalgic Icons Now Public Property
When we turn our heads to one of the most adored classic characters ever created, Popeye immediately comes to mind. Popeye made all our moms insist we eat spinach to the point where spinach sales skyrocketed by 33% in the U.S. during his peak popularity, owing to the belief that spinach contained exceptionally high iron content. Developed by Elzie Crisler Segar, Popeye first appeared in the comic strip Thimble Theatre on January 17, 1929. He went on to become one of the most popular animated characters of the 1930s, rivalling even Mickey Mouse. Now, as we enter the year 2025, the copyright for the original comic strip has expired in many countries, placing Popeye in the public domain.
Another beloved cartoon worth mentioning is Tintin! Belgian cartoonist Georges Remi, better known as Hergé, created Tintin, whose character debuted in 1929 in Le Petit Vingtième, a children’s supplement to a Belgian newspaper. With rising success, Tintin has been translated into more than 70 languages and has sold over 250 million copies worldwide, making it one of the most successful comic series of all time.
What made kids jump with excitement? The adventurous, action-packed, mysterious, and humorous themes blended with subtle influences of real-world political and cultural elements. From the thrilling treasure hunts in The Secret of the Unicorn to the historically reflective critique of colonialism in Tintin in the Congo, the stories carried depth far beyond simple adventure.
And the most endearing treasure of all? Tintin’s unforgettable companions include his loyal dog Snowy, the gruff yet lovable Captain Haddock, and the absent-minded genius Professor Calculus. The series went on to be adapted into radio plays, TV shows, and the critically acclaimed 2011 animated film The Adventures of Tintin, directed by Steven Spielberg.
The list of characters entering the public domain in 2025 doesn’t end here. A full list of PD Mickey cartoons as of 2025 includes:
• Plane Crazy
• The Galloping Gaucho
• Steamboat Willie
• The Barn Dance
• The Opry House
• When The Cat’s Away
• The Barnyard Battle
• The Plowboy
• The Karnival Kid
• Mickey’s Follies
• Mickey’s Choo-Choo
• The Jazz Fool
• Jungle Rhythm
• The Haunted House
• Wild Waves
Another creation of Disney and Iwerks entering the public domain in 2025 is The Skeleton Dance, the first Silly Symphonies cartoon, which can also be found on Disney’s official YouTube channel.
Not Just Cartoons: Other Works Entering the Public Domain
Other notable cinematic works entering the public domain include King Vidor’s Hallelujah, the first major studio film with an all-Black cast, and Alan Crosland’s On With the Show, the first all-talking, all-colour feature-length film. The year 1929 marked the finality of the silent film era, ushering in the age of sound films, and this year’s list also includes the first sound films from major directors like Alfred Hitchcock (Blackmail), John Ford (The Black Watch), and Cecil B. DeMille (Dynamite). Clara Bow’s first talkie, The Wild Party, and The Broadway Melody, the first sound film to win an Academy Award for Best Picture, also joined the public domain.
Non-cartoon works entering the public domain this year include books by Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, and Agatha Christie, as well as songs like Tiptoe Through The Tulips and Singin’ In The Rain (not the movie, just the song). The Cocoanuts, the first Marx Brothers movie, also becomes free for public use.
Detective mysteries feature prominently this year, with Dashiell Hammett’s Red Harvest and The Maltese Falcon, Ellery Queen’s The Roman Hat Mystery, and Agatha Christie’s The Seven Dials Mystery entering the public domain.
Additionally, this year includes significant literary debuts, such as John Steinbeck’s first novel, Cup of Gold, and Richard Hughes's A High Wind in Jamaica. The year 1929’s influence across various art forms—cinema, literature, and music—is once again reflected in the works that now become accessible to all.
It’s also worth mentioning two of the most acclaimed books about World War I: Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms and the first English translation of Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front. Both authors, having served in the war, brought deeply authentic perspectives to their works.
Whilst we can’t wait to see the creativity unleashed with the new members of the public domain, copyright rules ensure due respect and consideration for the authors. We would like to leave you with a thought regarding a conversation often surrounding the public domain. Several legal experts argue that, while public domain and copyright expiration serve as protectors of the good-faith creativity of the community, trademark laws nonetheless present themselves as obstacles to using public domain characters. We leave This conversation open for you, and we would be glad to cover this in another blog!
Kommentare