On January 1, 2026, creative works and characters introduced in 1930 will receive their diploma and enter the public domain. Tons of classic works and characters like the original Nancy Drew in Secret of the Old Clock, Betty Boop in the Dizzy Dishes cartoon, hard-boiled detective Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon novel, and more will graduate, shed their copyrights, and become free agents, available for anyone to copy, share, and build upon.
Check out the infographic below and our blog post to learn more about the Public Domain Class of 2026 and the need for shortened copyright terms to promote creativity in the U.S.