{"id":1066,"date":"2026-01-02T22:24:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T21:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/?p=1066"},"modified":"2025-12-19T12:36:51","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T11:36:51","slug":"public-domain-day-2026-whats-entering-the-commons-in-the-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/2026\/01\/public-domain-day-2026-whats-entering-the-commons-in-the-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"Public Domain Day 2026: What\u2019s Entering the Commons in the UK?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>It is finally that time of year when we celebrate the new wave of creative works entering the public domain, becoming free for anyone to use, adapt, and share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_1157715370-scaled.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[1066]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_1157715370-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1073\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_1157715370-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_1157715370-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_1157715370-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_1157715370-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_1157715370-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In the UK, copyright generally lasts for <strong>70 years after the creator\u2019s death<\/strong>, so works by those who died in <strong>1955<\/strong> are now open for all. We also tend to get a number of slasher movies coming our way with characters which are no longer protected, or I should clarify, early versions of characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is important to note that due to the territoriality of copyright, material can enter the public domain in one country however still be protected in another country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Works by creators who died in 1955<\/strong> in countries with a copyright term of <em>life plus 70 years<\/em> (such as the UK, Russia, and most of Europe and South America).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Works by creators who died in 1975<\/strong> in countries applying a <em>life plus 50 years<\/em> term (including New Zealand and much of Africa and Asia).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Films and books published in 1930<\/strong> (including any featured artworks) for the United States.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why Does This Matter?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Public domain status means these works can be digitized, remixed, and incorporated into new projects without seeking permission or paying fees. It\u2019s a celebration of cultural heritage and creative freedom. Please be aware that public domain does not refer to the world wide web, although that is used often, public domain are works to which copyright has either expired or relinquished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Literary Giants<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the most significant authors joining the public domain is <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Thomas_Mann\">Thomas Mann<\/a>, the German novelist behind <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Buddenbrooks\"><em>Buddenbrooks<\/em><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Doctor_Faustus_(novel)\"><em>Doctor Faustus<\/em><\/a>. His writing is celebrated for its rich symbolism and deep psychological insight into artists and intellectuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/12\/256px-Mann_Thomas_\u2013_Buddenbrooks_1909_\u2013_BEIC_3277013.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[1066]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"256\" height=\"409\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/12\/256px-Mann_Thomas_\u2013_Buddenbrooks_1909_\u2013_BEIC_3277013.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1069\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/12\/256px-Mann_Thomas_\u2013_Buddenbrooks_1909_\u2013_BEIC_3277013.jpg 256w, https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/12\/256px-Mann_Thomas_\u2013_Buddenbrooks_1909_\u2013_BEIC_3277013-188x300.jpg 188w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 256px) 100vw, 256px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Other notable names include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/L%C3%A9on_Werth\">L\u00e9on Werth<\/a> (France)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/de.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Guido_Battelli\">Guido Battelli<\/a> (Italy)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Clemence_Housman\">Clemence Housman<\/a> (UK)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/James_Agee\">James Agee<\/a> (<em>A Death in the Family<\/em>, USA)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dale_Carnegie\">Dale Carnegie<\/a> (<em>How to Win Friends and Influence People<\/em>, USA)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nat_Schachner\">Nat Schachner<\/a>, author of <em>Space Lawyer<\/em> (USA)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Poetry lovers can rediscover works by <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wallace_Stevens\">Wallace Stevens<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Paul_Claudel\">Paul Claudel<\/a>, now free for adaptation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Music and Performing Arts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Compositions entering the public domain include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Arthur_Honegger\">Arthur Honegger<\/a> (Switzerland)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Francesco_Balilla_Pratella\">Francesco Balilla Pratella<\/a> (Italy)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/James_P._Johnson\">James P. Johnson<\/a>, the jazz pioneer behind the \u201cCharleston\u201d (USA)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Film history also benefits, with works by director <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lloyd_Bacon\">Lloyd Bacon<\/a> and screenwriters <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/William_C._deMille\">William C. deMille<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Robert_Riskin\">Robert Riskin<\/a> now open for reuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Visual Arts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Art enthusiasts can explore creations by French artists <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yves_Tanguy\">Yves Tanguy<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fernand_L%C3%A9ger\">Fernand L\u00e9ger<\/a>, whose works shaped modern art movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Philosophy and Science<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Philosophical writings by <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jos%C3%A9_Ortega_y_Gasset\">Jos\u00e9 Ortega y Gasset<\/a> enter the public domain in most European countries (except Spain). Additionally, publications by influential thinkers such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Albert_Einstein\">Albert Einstein<\/a> (physics)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Alexander_Fleming\">Dr. Alexander Fleming<\/a> (medicine)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hermann_Weyl\">Hermann Weyl<\/a> (mathematics)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Herbert_Stanley_Jevons\">Herbert Stanley Jevons<\/a> (economics)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These works are now free to be modified, adapted and used in a commercial way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Across the Pond<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the US we have some more goodies entering the public domain. The debut of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nancy_Drew\">Nancy Drew<\/a> the fictional teen detective, a response to the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Hardy_Boys\">Hardy Boys<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Secret_of_the_Old_Clock\">The Secret of the Old Clock<\/a> which is the first volume in the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nancy_Drew_Mystery_Stories\">Nancy Drew Mystery Stories<\/a> entered the public domain on the 1<sup>st<\/sup> of Jan 2026. I guess these types of stories can be compared to <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Famous_Five\">The Famous Five<\/a> in the UK or <a href=\"https:\/\/ro.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cire%C8%99arii\"><em>Cire\u0219arii<\/em><\/a>(The Cherrys I guess) cires in Romanian is cherry tree. Anyway, the book tells the story of 7 teenage friends who have many adventures together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to characters, we welcome <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fleischerstudios.com\/becomingbettyboop.html\">Betty Boop<\/a> (the first iteration, the newer ones are still protected under copyright and most likely trademarks) as well as the first appearance of Pluto when he was still an unnamed bloodhound in the 1930s <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Chain_Gang_(1930_film)\">The Chain Gang<\/a>. There are many more <a href=\"https:\/\/copyrightlately.com\/public-domain-2026\/\">creative works<\/a> entering the US public domain, Agatha Christie\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Murder_at_the_Vicarage\">Murder at the Vicarage<\/a>, which features the first appearance of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Miss_Marple\">Jane Marple<\/a>. &nbsp;Please be aware that <a href=\"https:\/\/web.law.duke.edu\/cspd\/publicdomainday\/2026\/\">these only apply to the US<\/a>, and not the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/12\/Public_Domain_Day_2026_MontageCC-BY.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[1066]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/12\/Public_Domain_Day_2026_MontageCC-BY-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1070\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/12\/Public_Domain_Day_2026_MontageCC-BY-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/12\/Public_Domain_Day_2026_MontageCC-BY-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/12\/Public_Domain_Day_2026_MontageCC-BY-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/12\/Public_Domain_Day_2026_MontageCC-BY-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/12\/Public_Domain_Day_2026_MontageCC-BY.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/web.law.duke.edu\/cspd\/publicdomainday\/2026\/\">Public Domain Day 2026 Montage by S Dudley, shared under a CC BY 4.0<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What Can You Do With Public Domain Works?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Create new adaptations<\/strong> \u2013 films, plays, or modern retellings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Digitize and share<\/strong> \u2013 make classics accessible online<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Incorporate into teaching<\/strong> \u2013 free resources for education<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Design merchandise<\/strong> \u2013 art prints, themed products<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Celebrate the Commons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Public Domain Day reminds us that creativity builds on the past. By respecting copyright during its term and embracing the public domain when it expires, we keep culture alive and evolving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Happy Public Domain Day!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_1158175538-scaled.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[1066]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_1158175538-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1071\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_1158175538-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_1158175538-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_1158175538-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_1158175538-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/12\/AdobeStock_1158175538-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>The information contained in this blog post should be taken as recommended advice or guidance but should not be taken as legal advice. If in any doubt, please seek proper legal advice.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It is finally that time of year when we celebrate the new wave of creative works entering the public domain, becoming free for anyone to use, adapt, and share. In the UK, copyright generally lasts for 70 years after the creator\u2019s death, so works by those who died in 1955 are now open for all. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":756,"featured_media":1067,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"lboro_blog_alternative_thumbnail_image":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[83],"tags":[85,113],"class_list":["post-1066","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-copyright","tag-copyright","tag-public-domain-day"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1066","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/756"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1066"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1066\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1075,"href":"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1066\/revisions\/1075"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1067"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1066"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1066"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/rdm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1066"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}