Durham, North Carolina – As the new year begins, a wave of previously copyrighted works from 1929 are now entering the public domain in the United States. This includes iconic characters like Popeye and Tintin, whose earliest versions are now free for reuse and repurposing.
Duke Law School’s Center for the Study of Public Domain has curated a list of notable works that have been freed from copyright restrictions. One significant aspect of this year’s release is the inclusion of sound recordings from 1924. 1929 marked a pivotal year for film as it was the first to incorporate sound, leading to the emergence of new creative possibilities.
Among the works now in the public domain is the original Popeye, who made his debut in E.C. Segar’s Thimble Theatre comic strip with the story “Gobs of Work.” Interestingly, this version of Popeye did not yet possess his iconic strength-boosting spinach-eating habit, a characteristic that would later define the character. Similarly, the earliest iterations of Tintin and his loyal canine companion Snowy (known as “Milou” in French) from Hergé’s Les Aventures de Tintin series are also now available for public use.
While audiences in the United States can immediately enjoy these newly liberated works, European fans will have to wait a bit longer. In the European Union, where copyright protections extend until 70 years after an author’s death, Tintin will not enter the public domain until 2054 due to Hergé’s passing in 1983.
The delay in releasing these works earlier is attributed to a 1998 decision by US lawmakers to extend copyright protections for works from 1923 onwards by an extra 20 years. This extension, which aimed to safeguard beloved characters like Disney’s Mickey Mouse, also affected the timeline for other creative works to become copyright-free.
As fans anticipate the release of more iconic characters in the coming years, such as Betty Boop and Pluto in 2026, the expansion of the public domain offers new opportunities for creators and audiences alike to explore and reimagine these timeless classics.