A new year, a new list of works entering the public domain in the United States. And this time, it's heavy: Tintin and Popeye join the party! These emblematic characters therefore become usable without paying royalties.
Tintin in a horror film? It will be possible
But be careful, there are subtleties: only the original versions from 1929 are concerned. For example, the Popeye you know, boosted with spinach, remains protected. Yes, he only discovered his famous green box in 1932. As for Tintin, we will have to be content with the first adventures of the intrepid reporter and his faithful Snowy, that is to say the album (hated by Hergé) “ Tintin in the Land of the Soviets ».
This change doesn't just affect comic book characters. On the literature side, classics like “ Farewell to arms » d’Ernest Hemingway et « Nothing new in the West » by Erich Maria Note also enter the public domain. On the cinema side, fans of cult films will be able to rediscover BlackmailAlfred Hitchcock's first talking film, or even Hallelujahthe first feature film from a major studio with an all-black cast.
So what does that change? Lots of things. When a work enters the public domain, everyone can use it: artists, writers, musicians or simple amateurs. For example, if you feel like transforming Tintin into a superhero or revisiting “ Ain’t Misbehavin’ » by Fats Waller with your own arrangement, it's possible. Even high school orchestras can play compositions from this era without fear of restrictions.
This freedom has already given rise to surprising projects. The entry into the public domain of characters like Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse inspired offbeat horror films. Moreover, according to Jennifer Jenkins, director of the Center for the Study of the Public Domain at Duke University, three Popeye slasher films are already in preparation! But that's not all: this openness also allows us to rediscover forgotten nuggets and give them new life.
The public domain is an infinite playground. Works like the “ Bolero » by Maurice Ravel, « Rhapsody in Blue » by George Gershwin or even the first interpretations of Louis Armstrong will also become accessible. Of course, this concerns musical composition and not original recordings, which remain protected by other laws.
In Europe, the case of Tintin is different: Hergé's works will remain protected until 2054. But in the United States, this entry into the public domain marks a cultural turning point. Whether you are a budding artist or simply curious, the year 2025 will offer a unique opportunity to revisit, reinterpret and share these classics which are part of the collective heritage. Who knows? Perhaps a new masterpiece will see the light of day thanks to these works that have become free.
???? To not miss any news on the Journal du Geek, subscribe on Google News. And if you love us, we have a newsletter every morning.
