Is Albert Einstein’s likeness really still protected?
I read the FAQ but I’m a bit confused? I thought in 2012 it was ruled Einstein’s likeness expired in 2005? https://cdas.com/einstein-publicity-rights-deemed-expired-by-california-federal-court/
As of 2026, all of his works expired in his birth country after 70 years. And there was a company I think that “claimed” rights to his likeness and publicity but this is so confusing.
Street and Smith Comics
Hey guy, i found of street and smith comics to this
https://www.comics.org/publisher/104/
Public Domain Vehicles
Dose everyone of public domain vehicles (characters only) and (vehicles comic books only) only like dcm and cbp
Why are people mistakening Conan is still copyrighted?
I know Conan is public domain in the United States because Phoenix on Sword was not renewed in 1961, however there is often many mistaken claims that he’s under copyright until 2028 or whatever. Why is that?
I think it’s because the estate is litigious and Conan is a very famous IP and like King Kong, Shazam and Clifford a lot of people don’t know he’s public domain.
Public Domain horror movies
Here are a list of public domain horror movies due to them not being renewed
Proof of these movies are public domain by using these sites
https://archive.org/details/copyrightrecords?tab=collection&sin=TXT
https://publicrecords.copyright.gov/
Devil's Partner (1963)
Mesa of Lost Women (1953)
Phantom from Space (1953)
The Snow Creature (1954)
Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla (1952)
Beast from Haunted Cave (1959)
The Dead One (1961)
Beauty and the Beast (1962)
The Weird Ones (lost 1962 film)
Hands of a Stranger (1962)
Terror of the Bloodhunters (1962)
Trauma (1962)
The Devil's Hand (1961)
House of Dreams (1963)
Four Nights of the Full Moon (lost 1963 film)
Monstrosity (1963)
Proof of these movies are public domain by using these sites
https://archive.org/deta…
Public Domain commercials that have Dracula
Here is a list of commercials that has Dracula in those commercials (excluding the commercials that has Dracula in it which I included them in my blog about pd commercials with Frankenstein's Monster. (Link:https://pdsh.fandom.com/wiki/User_blog:Weird_Al_fan/Public_Domain_commercials_that_have_Frankenstein%27s_Monster)
https://youtu.be/WfWQqJXnqXE?si=ppAx7qHCWaZRsU_i
https://publicrecords.copyright.gov/search?page_number=1&query=%22Schlage%22&field_type=%22keyword%22&records_per_page=10&sort_order=%22asc%22&model=%22%22
https://youtu.be/PK30_9LragE?si=LjD90Vkbgw79q__-
https://publicrecords.copyright.gov/search?page_number=1&query=%22Duracell%22&field_type=%22keyword%22&records_per_page=10&sort_order=%22asc%22&model=%22%22
https://youtu.be/Rqio5…
Categories for ERB, Inc. and Femforce Characters
It's ok to adding of ERB, Inc. and Femforce Characters in Categories please?
Are these films are public domain
So I was wondering are these films are public domain since while they were renewed they was registered more than 3 months which would make them defective under the Copyright Act of 1909
Cat-Women of the Moon (1953)
https://publicrecords.copyright.gov/detailed-record/voyager_7033949
Bride of the Monster (1955)
https://publicrecords.copyright.gov/detailed-record/voyager_7113539
The Hideous Sun Demon (1958)
https://publicrecords.copyright.gov/detailed-record/voyager_7257716
Public Domain commercials that have Frankenstein's Monster
Here is a list of commercials that have Frankenstein's Monster
https://youtu.be/OsAGwYefU7I?si=PUFNGAd0FJoRfCoG (which the commerical also have Igor and Victor Frankenstein)https://publicrecords.copyright.gov/search?page_number=1&query=%22Reese’s%20Peanut%20Butter%20Cups%20%22&field_type=%22keyword%22&records_per_page=10&type_of_record=%22registration%22&sort_field=%22representative_date%22&sort_order=%22asc%22&type_of_work=%22motion_picture%22&model=%22%22
https://youtu.be/giSMsHOX6ig?si=YF8lEwff2-ErHas9 (which the commerical also have Victor Frankenstein)
https://youtu.be/BeFrWxwE2y4?si=qaq0JkdwdUSMMT8s (Which also have Dracula and Mr. Hyde) https://publicrecords.copyright.gov/search?page_number=1&query="Sambo's%20Restaurants"&field_type="k…
Is The Mummy public domain
So in the notice of The Mummy (1932) in the opening,the notice have MCMXXXIII (1933) instead of MCMXXXII (MCMXXXII) (1932) https://youtu.be/HD_qV_QvDjY?si=TSxn6hwv7L6jF2Bw (at 0:23). I was wondering does it make the mummy public domain since while it was registered https://archive.org/details/catalogofcopyrig51libr/page/532/mode/1up?q=mummy and was renewed https://archive.org/details/catalogofcopyr3141213libr/page/45/mode/1up?q=Mummy ,it's has a 1933 notice so does it make it invailed or not?
Creature (1985) isn't public domain
so I saw this wiki page https://pdsh.fandom.com/wiki/Titan_Creature and it said it was public domain and I went to see if it true went and watch the credit to see if has a notice since the opening didn't have a notice and turns out that it's actually has a notice which is valid.
https://youtu.be/h9UqmK52G1I?si=1QqcGak1MrwuqyzS (at:1:33:34)
So that's means the movie isn't public domain.
Update: turns out the movie is still public domain.
FNAF cameos
Explanation of the public domain characters referenced in Five Nights at Freddy's.
- 1 General
- 2 Games
- 2.1 Five Nights at Freddy's 2
- 2.2 Five Nights at Freddy's 4
- 2.3 FNaF World: Halloween Edition
- 2.4 Fnaf World
- 2.5 Five Nights at Freddy's: Sister Location
- 2.6 Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria Simulator
- 2.7 Help Wanted
- 2.8 Five Nights at Freddy's: Special Delivery
- 2.9 Freddy in Space 2
- 2.10 Security Breach
- 2.11 Five Nights at Freddy's: Secret of the Mimic
- 3 Books
- 3.1 The Silver Eyes
- 3.2 Into the Pit
- 3.3 To Be Beautiful
- 3.4 Count the Ways
- 3.5 Fetch
- 3.6 Frailty
- 3.7 Submechanophobia
- 4 Movies
- 4.1 FNAF
- 4.2 FNAF 2
- 5 Merch
- The main characters are Robots possessed by Ghosts.
- They are also inspired by Cyborgs,Automatons and Zombies.
- Puppet is based on Jack-in-the-Box
- "Pop! Goes the Weasel" plays when Puppet is …
When Will Golden Age Timely/Atlas Characters Enter the Public Domain?
The following is a list of Timely/Atlas Characters organized by first appearance with information about when each character will enter the public domain.
More characters will be added to the list in the future.
Note some Marvel books have already entered the public domain due to lack of renewal. A list of verified title can be found here.
- 1 1939 - January 1, 2035
- 2 1940 January 1, 2036
- 2.1 Heroes / Anti-Heroes
- 2.2 Villains
- 3 1941 - January 1, 2037
- 3.1 Major Heroes
- 3.2 Villains
- 4 1942 - January 1, 2038
- 4.1 Heroes
- 4.2 Villains
- 5 1943 - January 1, 2039
- 6 1944–1945 - - January 1, 2040 & 2041
- 7 1946–1947 - January 1, 2042 & 2043
- 8 1948 - January 1, 2044
- 9 1949 - January 1, 2045
- Human Torch (Jim Hammond) — Marvel Comics #1
- Angel (Thomas Halloway) — Marvel Comics #1
- Masked Raider — …
When will Golden Age DC Characters Enter the Public Domain?
The following is a list of DC Characters organized by first appearance with information about when each character will enter the public domain.
More characters will be added to the list in the future.
New Fun #1-6, More Fun Comics #1-30, and New Adventure Comics #12-27 did not have their copyright renewed and are already in the public domain.
1935 - January 1, 2031
- Allan de Beaufort – New Comics #1 (1935)
- Jack Andrews – New Fun #1 (1935)
- Buckskin Jim – New Fun Comics (1935)
- Cap’n Erik – New Fun #1 (1935)
- Captain Grim – New Fun Comics #3 (1935)
- Bobby and Binks – New Fun #1 (1935)
- Wing Brady – New Fun #1 (1935)
- Allan de Beaufort – New Comics #1 (1935)
- Midshipman Jack Dewey – New Fun #2 (1935)
- Dr. Occult – New Fun #6 (Oct. 1935)
- Henri Duval – New Fun Comics #6 (1935)
- Barry O’Neill – New Fun #…
Rules & Polices Draft
The following is a draft based on the existing information we have written previously and complied into one location. Once finalized we'll add this official to our Rules & Policies page. Please comment with any changes or additions:
- 1 Public Domain Superheroes Wiki – Content Policies
- 2 Getting Started & Community Guidelines
- 3 Editorial Conduct Policy
- 4 Special Cases and Legal Uncertainty
- 5 Sound Recordings and Radio Programs
- 6 Adding Images
- 7 Adding Publisher Categories
- 8 Final Notes
This page explains the rules for what can and cannot be added to the Public Domain Superheroes Wiki. The purpose of this wiki is to catalog fictional characters that are in the public domain in the United States.
Because copyright law is complex, this page summarizes the most imp…
Public Domain Day 2028 To-Do List
Since Crimson already did one for 2027, i decided to do a earlyish one for 2028 as well. I mean idk why, was just bored and wanted to help this wiki for future years. This is the only one i'll make for one, in case Crimson will do one too in the future.
NOTE: Does not include American works from 1932 already public domain due to no copyright renewal (Ex: Bluto, Geezil, The first appearance of Winnie-the-Pooh in his red shirt, King Kong (novelization) and Conan the Barbarian.) or special cases like Blinky Bill
. Only contains properly renewed (Unless further researched) and Foreign works from 1932 that do expire in 2028.)
Works from 1932 will enter the public domain on January 1, 2028, as Crimson and Cebr mentioned. Do not add these until 12:0…
Copyrights of Golden Age Comics Publishers
Below is a summary of research conducted at the Library of Congress by the author of the Herogoggles website, examining the registration and renewal status of some notable Golden Age comic publishers, but please note there are many more. The original article is linked above for reference.
This summary is intended to help new users understand which publishers’ comics may be in the public domain and as starting point to guide their research. As a best practice, always double-check the renewal records for the specific issues in which characters appeared before adding them to the wiki. For additional guidance, please see our FAQ.
- 1 Pre-1938 & Special Titles
- 2 Ace Publications (Ace Magazines, Inc.; Periodical House, Inc.)
- 3 Archie (MLJ)
- 4 Better / Stand…
Public Domain Marvel Comics
Here is a list of public domain marvel comics
Crime Must Lose #6, 8:https://archive.org/details/copyrightrecords?tab=collection&query=Crime+Must+Lose&sin=TXT
Blackstone, The Magician #1-4:https://archive.org/details/copyrightrecords?tab=collection&query=Blackstone%2C+The+Magician&sin=TXT
Marvel Tales #142:"Marvel+Tales"
Tex Morgan #8:https://archive.org/details/copyrightrecords?tab=collection&query=tex+Morgan&sin=TXT&and%5B%5D=year%3A%5B1949+TO+1978%5D
Kid Kolt Outlaw #20-32:https://publicrecords.copyright.gov/search?page_number=1&query=%22Kid%20Kolt%20Outlaw%22&field_type=%22keyword%22&records_per_page=10&sort_order=%22asc%22&model=%22%22
World of Fantasy #12:https://publicrecords.copyright.gov/search?page_number=1&query=%22World%20of%20Fantasy…
Adding additional Dick Tracy characters?
Under the Dick Tracy article it says that all the strips up to July 14th 1946 lack renewal. Considering this, should we add famous Tracy characters who appeared before July 15th 1946 such as Flat Top Jones Sr., 88 Keyes, The Blank, Breathless Mahoney, and Lips Manlis?
Some post-1931 Nancy Drew books may have slipped through the cracks and weren't renewed.
https://nancydrewsleuths.blogspot.com/2025/12/nancy-drew-case-of-missing-copyrights.html
I just found this out when searching, there is also good research done by this fan. So if anyone wants to verify this feel free to.
Sorry if i wasn't active much btw, i was dealing with depression and stress that's all.
The Adventures of Mickey Mouse
The Adventures of Mickey Mouse (1931) published by David McKay.
- Mickey Mouse
- Minnie Mouse
- Henry Horse
- Carolyn Cow
- Patricia Pig
- Donald Duck
- Clara Cluck the Hen
- Robert Rooster
- The Little Peep-peep Chicks
- The Turkeys
- The Geese
- The Ground Dog
- Claws the Cat
- Long Dog the Dachshund
- George Goat
- Gertie Goat
- Silly Symphony (1929)
- The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)
- Narnia (1950)
- Muppets (1955)
- Pirates of the Caribbean (1967)
- Indiana Jones (1981)
- Roger Rabbit (1988)
- Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
- Gargoyles (1994)
- Kingdom Hearts (2002)
- American Dragon Jake Long (2005)
- Percy Jackson (2005)
- American Born Chinese (2006)
- Epic Mickey (2010)
- Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
- Gravity Falls (2012)
- Tsum Tsum (2013)
- Descendants (2015)
- Disney Speedstorm (2023)
- The Mad Doctor
- Dr. XXX
- Skeleton Spider…
Guidlines for Adding Minor Characters
Recently, there has been discussion about how to determine whether minor and/or unnamed characters merit having their own pages on the wiki. With more works entering the public domain every January 1st, there is concern that the wiki could become overcrowded with unnamed or incidental background characters.
Protagonists, antagonists, sidekicks, love interests, mentors, and other characters who play a significant role in the story of a public-domain work may be added to the wiki without issue, even if they were unnamed in their original appearances. In these cases, the article should be assigned a name that follows the naming conventions used by other pages on the wiki. If a character later became better known under a name that is not yet in…
Curly might be public domain after all...?
Despite thinking Nerstery Rhymes was the first appearance of the "fictionalized" Curly, it seems i found another lead:
https://threestooges.net/filmography/view/206/# This short film is actually the true first appearance of Curly since it pre-dates Nerstery Rhymes by a few months. Searching in renewals shows no registration or renewal under "Snapshots" It is also likely the first named appearance of Moe afaik. it is lost though.
https://archive.org/details/catalogofcopyr3141213libr/page/41/mode/1up?q=snapshots
https://archive.org/details/catalogofcopyr3151213libr/page/59/mode/1up?q=snapshots
Would it TECHINALLY count despite being a documentary? It okay if not. If so, then we might not need to wait until 2029 for Curly..?
Crusader rabbit and Dudley do right
Recently I found that The Comic Strips of Television (1948) pilot was not renewed, https://archive.org/details/copyrightrecords?tab=collection&query=The+Comic+strips+of+television&sin=TXT
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7T0q5ac_jV8&pp=0gcJCR4Bo7VqN5tD
This is very significant as this makes crusader rabbit, Dudley do right, and other characters in the nbc pilot public domain.
Would it be okay to add these characters now?
Public Domain Day 2027 To-Do List
Under the Copyright Term Extension Act, books published in 1931, films released in 1931, and other works published in 1931, will enter the public domain on January 1, 2027.
Sound recordings that were published in 1926 will enter the public domain.
- 1 Resources about Additions to the Public Domain in 2027
- 2 Notable Characters to Add/Pages to Update
- 3 Other Notable Works First Published in 1931
- 3.1 Animation / Shorts
- 3.2 Films
- 3.3 Literature / Books
- 3.3.1 Works by Johnston McCulley
- 3.4 Songs & Music
- 3.5 Art
- 1931 in Comics
- 1931 in Film
- American Films of 1931
- Movies Released in 1931 - IMBD
- 1931 in Animation
- 1931 in Music
- 1931 in Literature
- 1931 in Poetry
- 1931 in Art
- Wikimedia Commons Category 1931
- 1931 Disney Wiki
- 1931 Disney Shorts
- 1931 Warner Bros Films
- 1926 in Sound Recordi…
Kaiju history
- 1 Ancient/Folklore
- 2 Pre Godzilla
- 3 1954
- 4 Post Godzilla
- 5 Gallery
- Akkorokamui (Ainu Folklore)
- Apep (Egyptian Myth)
- Beast (Book of Revelation)
- Hebrew Theology
- Behemoth
- Leviathan
- Burrunjor (Aboriginal Folklore)
- Greek Myth
- Charybdis
- Hydra
- Scylla
- Chernobog (Slavic Myth)
- Chinese Mythology
- Chi Long
- Chinese Dragon
- Huang Long
- Hundun
- Pixiu
- Dragons (World Folklore)
- Unknown
- Amazon
- Dragons of Rabka
- Giant Worms
- Mokele-mbembe
- Nguma-monene
- Ogopogo
- Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox
- European Dragon (Medieval European Folklore)
- Fafnir (Nordic Mythology)
- Norse Myth
- Fenrir
- Hati
- Jormungandr
- Skoll
- Golem (Jewish Folklore)
- Jotunn (Germanic mythology)
- Kraken (Scandinavian Folklore)
- Loch Ness Monster (Scottish Folklore)
- Man-Eating Plants (Concept) (African and Central American Folklore)
- Mapinguari (Brazilian Myth…
Flip the Frog IS in the public domain
Honestly, no offense to @VeryCuriousIndiviual but his blog post is really questionable and i don't get it.
Jennifer Jenkins of Duke literally confirmed Flip is public domain according to the 2026 PD Day page. Also, even if what he said WAS true, https://archive.org/details/fiddlesticks_20170601, The short literally has a 1930 notice, so I don't get it, maybe the 1931 registration was faulty and can be considered invalid but the short literally has a 1930 notice which would make it defective under the 1909 law since Ubi registered it more than just 3 months.
Flip is in the public domain, the case is closed.
Flip the Frog may not be public domain at all.
I started going through the original records and it looks like "Fiddlesticks" was copyrighted on April 21st 1931, not anytime in 1930. https://archive.org/details/catalogofcopyri41libr/page/142/mode/2up What's even more interesting is that all of the supposed "1930" flip shorts were copyrighted in April 1931. https://archive.org/details/catalogofcopyrig3131213li/page/40/mode/2up Here is a copy of its renewal from 1959. At the same time, Wikipedia does appear to be mostly accurate regarding the release years of the shorts it lists as being released from 1931 onward. However, The copyright notices for all of the shorts Wikipedia lists as being released show a notice showing "MCMXXX", 1930 in Roman numerals. Three additional shorts listed on…
The Betty Boop comic strip from 1934 seems to be public domain.
The Betty Boop strip debuted in 1934, searching renewals for perodricals (and even art, which is where you can find syndicated renewals, this one was not syndicated afaik) in 1962 show nothing, The New York Mirror Magazine as far as i know where it was serialized also didn't renew until 1946 (according to (I tried searching under "Boop" but i saw nothing not even under Helen's name.)
https://bettyboop.fandom.com/wiki/The_Original_Boop-Boop-a-Doop_Girl_by_Helen_Kane Here's the strip by the way.
Is it okay to add Jimmy Olsen and Lone Ranger now?
Since Shadow was added, i was wondering if we can add these two characters and should we change the Guidelines rule on OTR? It's okay if not right now.
However unlike Ranger, problem is for Jimmy Olsen i don't know if there's a good picture to use for him. The Superman radio show also is known to introduce many mythos that can be used once Supers himself expires in 2030. Like Kryptonite, i COULD make a spin-off wiki called Public Domain artifacts wiki but the US PD wiki exists so..
Tintin characters
As Quick and Flupke, the full version of in the Soviets, and half of Congo entering should we look more into other characters of the Herge universe once they expire each year?
We have to go by both serialization and albums, i do have a website that has the serialized strips (black and white) in their original french: https://fredcrash.com/bellier/indexsuite.htm
This is for when later characters like Thomsons and Captain Haddock expire in the coming years. Feel free to use the site, but it is in French so you would need a browser with a translator to read more clearly.
Should we make a New category called "Live-Action Characters"?
Since Soup to Nuts became public domain i was wondering if we should add a category for live-action characters, not sure if public domain Muppets like Wilkins and Wontkins could also fit there but just wondering. It's okay if not
Sorry
Heya sorry for accidentally making pages for Dagwood and adding Congo to list, the reason why i did that is because Wikimedia was already adding them and timezones are a bit different throughout america.
The images are still uploaded though (Only two) in case 12:00 comes and when it's ready to make pages.
Also update: Jennifer did not mention the Shadow or any Radio copyright in her page, but i did text her about the no-renewals of the scripts of the radio series and a Youtuber did state Shadow entered in 2026 (despite the no-renewal of the scripts and him becoming public domain since 1958(? )
Also, For Congo. Only the serialized version is public domain, not yet the album until 2027.
A public domain Captain America equivalent
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fighting_American
So this character character name Fighting American is created by the same people who made Captain America and the only issue that's aren't renewed nor registered are 1,6-7.
https://publicrecords.copyright.gov/search?page_number=1&query=%22Fighting%20American%22&field_type=%22keyword%22&records_per_page=100&sort_field=%22representative_date%22&sort_order=%22asc%22®istration_class=%22RE%22&model=""
https://publicrecords.copyright.gov/detailed-record/voyager_20557328
Complete List of DC Comics in the Public Domain
A Date with Judy - #2, 4-7, 18-79
Action Comics Free Souvenir Edition - (1947)
Adventures of Rex, the Wonder Dog - #1, 31
All-American Comics - Ashcan, #1-11, 24-25
All-American Men of War - Ashcan
All-Star Comics - #1-4
Batman and Robin Comic Strip (1953)
Big Book of Fun Comics - #1
Double Action Comics - Ashcan, #2
Flash Comics Miniature Edition - #1
Flash Comics - #15-16
Gang Busters - #13
Girls' Love Stories - #9, 13-14
Girls' Romances - #7, 11-12
Jimmy Wakely - #10-16
Leave it to Binky - #45
Make Way for Youth - #1
More Fun Comics - #7-30, 42-44
Movie Comics - #1-6
Movietown's Animal Antics - #24-31
Mutt & Jeff - #1-54, 56, 104-109
New Adventure Comics - #1-27
New Book of Comics - #1
New Comics - #1-11
New Fun Comics - #1-6
New York World's Fair Comics - #1-2 …
Scrambled Eggs Super
Scrambeled eggs super, one of the banned Seuss books, was found to be public domain! https://publicrecords.copyright.gov/search?page_number=1&query=%22Scrambled%20Eggs%20Super%22&field_type=%22keyword%22&records_per_page=10&sort_order=%22asc%22&model=%22%22
https://archive.org/details/catalogofcopyrig371lib/page/100/mode/2up?q=%22Scrambled+Eggs+Super%22
This is very major and I believe we should add characters from this book. https://seuss.fandom.com/wiki/Scrambled_Eggs_Super!
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dr._Seuss_-_Scrambled_Eggs_Super!_(1953).pdf
Arnold?
I mean, seeing how Doug and Porkchop are here same for Big Beast Quintet and the Mime are examples of free Nickelodeon characters, i wanted to also see if the character Arnold is also public domain.
Before Hey Arnold in 1996, his first appearance was in a short film created/released in September 1988 called "Arnold Escapes from Church" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QScFWfpbJQw
There doesn't seem to be a notice on the short itself, neither a registration made within 5 years: https://publicrecords.copyright.gov/search?page_number=1&query=%22arnold%20escapes%22&field_type=%22keyword%22&records_per_page=100&sort_order=%22asc%22&model=%22%22
Public domain DC comics
Here a list of public domain DC comics where one of my friends made a list of public domain DC comics
Rip Hunter... Time Master #1-18
The Flash #106, Annual #1
Adventures of Rex, the Wonder Dog #1, 31
Star Spangled War Stories Ashcan
All-American Men of War Ashcan
Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane Annual #1
Jimmy Wakely #10-16
The Brand New Adventures of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Annual #1
A Date with Judy #2, 4-7, 18-79
Girls' Romances #7, 11-12
Pat Boone #4
Girls' Love Stories #9,13-14
Superman Special Edition Kellog's 1954, 1955 1A, 1955 1B, 1955 1C
Leave it to Binky #45
Proof the Superman novel is public domain
I know Superman himself is not public domain yet, but since Cebr did remove the mention of the 1942 from Jor-L's page i decided to give more evidence for the book's public domain status:
The book in question: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventures_of_Superman_(novel)
Proof of no renewals:
To do list (for non-renewed comic characters)
Agent X-3 (proof of no renewal to be used for notes of the page)
Snuffy Smith (proof of no renewal to be used for notes of the page)
Nancy Ritz (already added)
Popeye characters not yet added:
Since King Features hasn't renewed much of post-1929 Popeye there are characters we have yet to add:
Merlock Jones
The Sea Hag's Sister
Susan
Misc:
The Spirit (Currently being researched by me and @GoodLittleGeorge)
Some more public domain Hanna-Barbera Works? (possible)
So a friend on Discord told me that he saw no renewals for the episodes of The Yogi Bear SHow and the first episode of Lion and Hardy Har Har.
Now Lion Hardy Har Har has almost all of the episodes renewed, i checked:
https://publicrecords.copyright.gov/search?page_number=1&query=%22%20Lippy%20Lion%20and%20Hardy%20Har%20Har%22&field_type=%22keyword%22&records_per_page=100&sort_field=%22copyright_number_for_display%22&sort_order=%22asc%22®istration_class=%22RE%22&model=%22%22 However there is no renewal for the first episode "See-Saw"
Yogi Bear's first apperaance was renewed according to: https://publicrecords.copyright.gov/detailed-record/voyager_7186911
However i seen no renewals for the 1961 The Yogi Bear Show: https://publicrecords.cop…
Public Domain Day 2026 to-do-list
Note: does not include Popeye characters that debuted in 1930 or Clarabelle Cow since they are already public domain due to no renewal on their first appearances (Clarabelle debuted in the comics before the Shindig), the same goes possibly for the Buck Rogers strips since Jennifer Jenkins did confirm the strip was not renewed, and it's possible the 1930 strips weren't renewed either. But this includes renewed elements.
The Shadow is also not included, since he's considered already public domain due to the scripts being registered and not renewed. But due to guidelines of OTR he can't be added at this time.
Inspired by Crimson's list from beginning of this year.
Notable Characters:
Pluto (as Rover)
Betty Boop (as Nancy Lee)
Bimbo The Dog
Dick and …
Curly is public domain..?
Edit: nvm copyright was renewed, and his true first appearance was in Nerserty Rhymes (1933) (This was about Curly Howard from Three Stooges)
Wizard of oz Characters
- 1 Public Domain Works
- 1.1 The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900)
- 1.2 The Wizard of Oz (02)
- 1.3 The Marvelous Land of Oz (04)
- 1.4 The Woggle-Bug (05)
- 1.5 Ozma of Oz (07)
- 1.6 Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz (08)
- 1.7 Fairylogue and Radio-Plays (08)
- 1.8 The Road to Oz (09)
- 1.9 The Emerald City of Oz (10)
- 1.10 The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (10)
- 1.11 The Patchwork Girl of Oz (13)
- 1.12 The Tik-Tok Man of Oz (13)
- 1.13 Little Wizard Stories of Oz (13)
- 1.14 Tik-Tok of Oz (14)
- 1.15 The Patchwork Girl of Oz (14)
- 1.16 His Majesty, The Scarecrow of Oz (14)
- 1.17 The Magic Cloak of Oz (14)
- 1.18 The Scarecrow of Oz (15)
- 1.19 Rinkitink in Oz (16)
- 1.20 The Lost Princess of Oz (17)
- 1.21 The Tin Woodman of Oz (18)
- 1.22 The Magic of Oz (19)
- 1.23 Glinda of Oz (20)
- 1.24 The Royal Book of Oz (21)
- 1.25 Kabumpo in Oz (22)
- 1.26 T…
Pooh's red shirt?
I think Pooh's red shirt might be public domain,
The red shirt debuted before Disney's iteration and it was on a record art work (made in America) around 1932. Now i know the sound recording is not public domain due to the MODERN classics act, but i do know Record artwork had to be copyrighted separately (which is why many of record designs are seen to be PD on Wikimedia.)
I looked into the design, and there is a notice but it seems invalid as it lacks a year, even if it was valid i saw no renewal for the artwork under "Pooh":
The red shirt is made in the US By Stephen Slesinger, i also searched by his name and saw nothing for the artwork on the record or board game.
So if i'm reading and looking at this correctly, then Pooh's red shirt MIGHT…
Tales of Horror Comics Monsters list
do you list of Tales of Horror Monsters collotion plus tales of terror?
Morticia and Wednesday first named appearances
I know the Addams Family and Wednesday won't become public domain until 2034 and 2040, but i found out that Wednesday and Morticia first got their names in a set of plush dolls sold in 1961. No copyright renewals are found for the dolls, meaning that the first named appearances of Morticia and Wednesday could be usable once the characters' copyrights expire in 2034 (Morticia) and 2040 (Wednesday).
This is a kinda minor discovery, but wanted to share this once the time comes for the Addamses to be added on PDSH in a decade from now.
Public Domain Hanna-Barbera Works?
I know Hanna-Barbera always renewed crap, but since the Tuffy post i was wondering if there are other Hanna characters that debuted in comics or commercials that weren't renewed/lacked a notice. Since some Ruff and Reddy comics are on Comicbookplus, but the show itself was renewed.
Warner, Disney and Paramount are the ones. But i would like to see how much of Hanna-Barbera is free, i know the Flintstones cigarette commercials are one.
The Flagstones pilot does not count, as it was unpublished before the 90s.
To do list
List of characters i set to add soon.
Pre-1929 folklore, etc characters not yet added here:
The Fair Lady (from London Bridge is Falling Down)
The Monkey (from Pop! Goes The Weasel)
Turbo Granny (Japanese urban legend character, already added by Crimson)
Joy Boy (West African and Caribbean folklore and inspiration for the legendary character in One Piece, https://www.fanverse.org/threads/the-caribbean-myth-that-inspired-joyboy.1331286/)
Susanna (from the song Oh! Susanna by Stephen Foster) (1848)
Old Dan Tucker
Comics:
King Features (most non renewals can be found on WIkiMedia's character list)
More pre-1929 and post-1929 Thimble Theatre characters. (George W. Geezil, More of the Sea-Hag's goons that debuted in 1930.)
More Flash Gordon, Phantom, and …
