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

This year we are hosting two ways to celebrate the public domain:

• A virtual celebration on January 21 at 10am PT — REGISTER BELOW

• An in-person film screening & party at the Internet Archive on January 21 from 6–10pm PT — REGISTER

---

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 Sam Spade, Dashiell Hammett’s hard-boiled private eye from The Maltese Falcon, 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.

Speakers include:

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