2025 promises to be a turning point for the public domain: from January, iconic characters such as Popeye e Tintin will become freely available for use in the United States. This means that the copyrights on many classic works, including novels by Hemingway e faulkner, the films of Hitchcock and the songs of Cole Porter, will expire, allowing creatives and enthusiasts to explore them without restrictions. But what opportunities and challenges does this new freedom bring?
A New Life for Popeye and Tintin
Il sailor Popeye, with his unmistakable slang and his ever-ready fists, makes his debut in the public domain in an unpublished version: the one without spinach. The character, created in 1929 by EC Segar, initially appears as a rough and slightly over the top type, far from the hero we know. Similarly, the young reporter Tintin, created by Hergé, crossed the Atlantic to hit American bookstores that same year. However, elements such as his famous colors and later adventures remain under copyright in many parts of the world, making the character a challenge for those who wish to reinterpret him.
Public Domain 2025: Great Literature, Early Cinema, and Music That Made History
Among the novels that the public domain returns to us, some masterpieces of American literature stand out: “A Farewell to Arms” (A Farewell to Arms) Of Ernest Hemingway, a heartbreaking love story set against the backdrop of the First World War, and “The Sound and the Fury” (The Sound and the Fury) Of William Faulkner, a complex but revolutionary text. Even the first novel of John Steinbeck, “The red saint” (Gold Cup) adds to the treasure, offering ideas for new readings and adaptations.
They are also freely available the first sound films, bringing with it the seeds of modern cinema. Blackmail, the first feature-length spoken film of Alfred Hitchcock, and The Coconuts, the Marx Brothers' debut, shows the evolution of an industry that was beginning to discover the potential of sound images. Even Mickey Mouse continues to make its gradual entry in the public domain, with twelve more animations (which reveal a Mickey Mouse a little less distant from the modern Disney “brand”).
The public domain in 2025 also brings immortal melodies: the immortal Rhapsody in Blue di George Gershwin, Ain't Misbehaving di Fats waller, and above all the classic Singin' in the Rain. Songs that not only capture the essence of the roaring 20s, but open the door to new interpretations and arrangements.
And in Italy? The “tricolor” public domain in 2025
Here, the works of authors who died in 1954 will be “liberated”, 70 years having passed since their death. There is not a very wide panorama, but some small gems will be found. Personally, I would find a good profile as an advertiser in Vitaliano Brancati, a great author and playwright who gave us delicious things like “Il Bell'Antonio”, or “Paolo il Caldo”, brought to the big screen by Giancarlo Giannini. I, however, must be said, have somewhat particular tastes.
A creative freedom to be preserved
Every year the public domain gives the community works that have marked cultural history, but not without challenges. In recent years Winnie the Pooh, the first Mickey Mouse, Metropolis by Fritz Lang and other masterpieces, this year more great news. The possibility of reimagining these creations depends on the creativity of those who collect them. Whether they are stories of the sea, timeless novels or jazz notes, 2025 promises an artistic legacy ready to be rediscovered and reinvented.