The Case of the Disappearing Copyright: Virtual Public Domain Day 2026

The Internet Archive is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that was founded to build an Internet library. Its purposes include offering permanent access for researchers, historians, scholars, people with disabilities, and the general public to historical collections that exist in digital format.

Internet Archive

On January 1, 2026, creative works from 1930 and sound recordings from 1925 enter the public domain. Celebrate with us online January 21!

<h3>This year we are hosting three ways to celebrate the public domain:</h3>• A virtual daytime celebration on January 21 at 10am PT — REGISTER BELOW• An in-person film screening &amp; party at the Internet Archive on January 21 from 6–10pm PT — <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1977503818153" title="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1977503818153">REGISTER</a>• A livestream of the film screening on January 21 at 7pm PT for folks outside the Bay Area — <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1980757251259" title="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1980757251259">REGISTER</a> <h3>NOTE: Our event will start with a pre-show mini-concert from musician Stephanie Woodford at 9:57am. </h3>Stephanie will be reinterpreting classic songs that moved into the public domain this year. Stephanie will play two songs starting at 9:57am PT and continuing through the start time of the event at 10am PT.---1930 ushered in a new decade and a world teetering between mystery and modernity. It was a year of detectives, jazz, speakeasies, and iconic characters stepping onto the cultural stage—many of whom have been locked behind copyright for nearly a century. Now, at long last, their cases have been reopened. This year, we follow “The Case of the Disappearing Copyright” as beloved sleuths and unforgettable stories slip back into the hands of the public. Nancy Drew makes her public domain debut with her first four mystery stories, beginning with The Secret of the Old Clock. Agatha Christie’s famed detective Miss Marple appears in her first novel, The Murder at the Vicarage. And the full book version of The Maltese Falcon featuring Sam Spade, Dashiell Hammett’s hard-boiled private eye, steps into the public domain, ready for new adventures. But the mystery doesn’t end there:• Betty Boop makes her first appearance in Dizzy Dishes• Disney’s iconic bloodhound debuts as Rover (later known as Pluto)• The Academy Award–winning Best Picture, All Quiet on the Western Front, enters the public domain• Beloved classics like The Little Engine That Could join the celebration• Timeless musical compositions “Georgia on My Mind,” “I Got Rhythm,” and “Dream a Little Dream of Me” become free for all to remix and reimagine• The Technicolor musical revue King of Jazz joins the party Join us on January 21 as we crack open these newly liberated works and celebrate the enduring power of creativity, curiosity, and culture. Our virtual program will feature an incredible lineup of academics, librarians, musicians, artists, and advocates who will guide us through the clues, characters, and cultural gems now entering the public domain. Dust off your magnifying glass—this is one mystery you won’t want to miss. Participating organizations include Internet Archive, Creative Commons, Duke Law's Center for the Study of the Public Domain, Authors Alliance, and Public Knowledge.

<h4>Speakers include:</h4><ul><li>Lila Bailey, Internet Archive (host)</li><li>Jennifer Jenkins, Duke Law's Center for the Study of the Public Domain</li><li>Elizabeth Townsend Gard, Tulane Center for IP, Media &amp; Culture</li><li>Dave Hansen, Authors Alliance</li><li>Dee Harris, Creative Commons</li><li>Alec Robbins, creator of “Mr. Boop” web comic</li><li>And more!</li></ul>

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The Case of the Disappearing Copyright: Virtual Public Domain Day 2026

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