https://apnews.com/article/public-domain-2025-popeye-tintin-e71ca89b7a430e68e66a7c6ce45a98eb Menu Image Menu * World SECTIONS Mideast Wars Israel-Hamas War Russia-Ukraine War Global Elections ESPANOL China Asia Pacific Latin America TOP STORIES + Syria's ousted leader Assad says he wanted to keep fighting but Russian allies evacuated him + Death toll in Gaza from the Israel-Hamas war tops 45,000 Palestinians, health officials say + Palestinian security forces launch a rare crackdown on militants in the West Bank Newsletters The Morning Wire Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. The Afternoon Wire Get caught up on what you may have missed throughout the day. See All Newsletters * U.S. TOP STORIES + 3 dead, others injured in a shooting at a private Christian school in Wisconsin + Survivors seek a reckoning as FBI investigates child sex abuse in little-known Christian sect + Takeaways from AP's reporting on a child sex abuse crisis inside a secretive Christian sect Newsletters The Morning Wire Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. The Afternoon Wire Get caught up on what you may have missed throughout the day. See All Newsletters * Politics SECTIONS Election 2024 Results Trump transition AP VoteCast AP Race Call Explainers Explaining 2024 En Espanol TOP STORIES + Trump weighs in on NY mayor, vaccines and drones in freewheeling press conference at Mar-a-Lago + TikTok asks the Supreme Court for an emergency order to block a US ban unless it's sold + Trump says he's a 'believer' in polio vaccine, and other news conference takeaways Newsletters Ground Game Exclusive insights and key stories from the world of politics. See All Newsletters * Sports SECTIONS AP Top 25 NFL NBA NHL Men's College Basketball Women's College Basketball MLB Auto Racing TOP STORIES + Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes has high-ankle sprain, status for Houston remains unclear, AP source says + Norfolk State interviews Michael Vick to be its football coach, according to report + Dolphins' Grant DuBose has movement in extremities after scary hit to the head vs. Texans Newsletters AP Top 25 Poll Alerts Get email alerts for every college football Top 25 Poll release. The Sports Wire Your home base for in-depth reporting from the world of sports. See All Newsletters * Entertainment SECTIONS Movie Reviews What to Stream Television Book Reviews Music Celebrity Interviews TOP STORIES + Former TV host Carlos Watson gets nearly 10 years in prison in case about failed startup Ozy Media + These three new sports dramas punch above their weight + Stage spoofs of Hallmark TV movies are Christmas gifts for theaters * Business SECTIONS Inflation Financial Markets Financial Wellness Technology TOP STORIES + Federal Reserve is likely to slow its rate cuts with inflation pressures still elevated + Trump weighs in on NY mayor, vaccines and drones in freewheeling press conference at Mar-a-Lago + Journalists anticipate a renewed hostility toward their work under the incoming Trump administration * Science SECTIONS Space Animals The Ancient World Climate Medicine TOP STORIES + How old are Saturn's rings? Study suggests they could be 4.5 billion years old just like the planet + Ancient genes pinpoint when humans and Neanderthals mixed and mingled + How to catch the Geminids, one of the strongest meteor showers of the year * Fact Check TOP STORIES + FACT FOCUS: Inspector general's Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup + FACT FOCUS: Vermont ruling does not say schools can vaccinate children without parental consent + FACT FOCUS: Posts misrepresent Biden administration spending on EV charging stations * Oddities * Be Well TOP STORIES + Stay sober and have a jolly holiday season with these expert tips + Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace + More beans and less red meat: Nutrition experts weigh in on US dietary guidelines * Newsletters Newsletters AP News Alerts Keep your pulse on the news with breaking news alerts from The AP. The Morning Wire Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Ground Game Exclusive insights and key stories from the world of politics. Beyond the Story Executive Editor Julie Pace brings you behind the scenes of the AP newsroom. AP Top 25 Poll Alerts Get email alerts for every college football Top 25 Poll release. AP Top 25 Women's Basketball Poll Alerts Women's college basketball poll alerts and updates. See All Newsletters * Photography SECTIONS 2024 YEAR END PHOTOS Photo Essays Photography The Americans TOP STORIES + Associated Press 100 Photos of 2024: An epic catalog of humanity + See entertainment's biggest moments in 2024, through the lens of Associated Press photographers + AP's top sports photos of the year are worth a close look Newsletters The World in Pictures Get The AP's most compelling photographs sent directly to your inbox. See All Newsletters * AP Investigations * Climate SECTIONS Indigenous peoples and climate Climate Questions Climate Migration India Focus TOP STORIES + Can U.N. summits save the planet? A faltering year of talks brings up questions about the process + American chestnuts are part of Yuletide lore. But in the US, they've nearly been wiped out + UN talks fail to reach agreement on dealing with rising risk of global drought * Health TOP STORIES + Are you catching holiday blues instead of cheer? Here are some ways to find peace + Some breast cancer patients can avoid certain surgeries, studies suggest + More beans and less red meat: Nutrition experts weigh in on US dietary guidelines + America is trying to fix its maternal mortality crisis with federal, state and local programs + Europe offers clues for solving America's maternal mortality crisis + Rural communities of color across the US find new ways to get the health care they need * Tech SECTIONS Artificial Intelligence Social Media TOP STORIES + Insider Q&A: High hopes for Australia social media ban and channeling parental 'fury' over tech + TikTok asks the Supreme Court for an emergency order to block a US ban unless it's sold + US agencies should use advanced technology to identify mysterious drones, Schumer says * Lifestyle SECTIONS 2024 Holiday gift guide Food & Recipes Gardening Homes Travel Fashion Pets TOP STORIES + US to require passenger vehicles to sound alarms if rear passengers don't fasten their seat belts + Are you catching holiday blues instead of cheer? Here are some ways to find peace + Stage spoofs of Hallmark TV movies are Christmas gifts for theaters * Religion TOP STORIES + 3 dead, others injured in a shooting at a private Christian school in Wisconsin + A second top Church of England cleric is facing calls to resign over his handling of abuse claims + Takeaways from AP's reporting on a child sex abuse crisis inside a secretive Christian sect Newsletters World of Faith Comprehensive global coverage of how religion shapes our world. See All Newsletters * Espanol TOP STORIES + Trump amenaza deportaciones masivas y Centroamerica se prepara ante llegada de migrantes vulnerables + Tiroteo en escuela de Wisconsin deja 3 muertos y varios heridos + Francia envia ayuda a Mayotte tras el ciclon Chido; Macron declara luto nacional + Los muertos en Gaza de la guerra entre Israel y Hamas superan los 45.000, segun palestinos + Assad, presidente depuesto de Siria, queria seguir luchando pero aliados rusos lo evacuaron. * Quizzes * AP Buyline Personal Finance * AP Buyline Shopping * Press Releases * My Account * ... + World o Mideast Wars o Israel-Hamas War o Russia-Ukraine War o Global Elections o ESPANOL o China o Asia Pacific o Latin America o Europe o Africa o Middle East o Australia + U.S. + Politics o Election 2024 o Results o Trump transition o AP VoteCast o AP Race Call Explainers o Explaining 2024 o En Espanol + Sports o AP Top 25 o NFL o NBA o NHL o Men's College Basketball o Women's College Basketball o MLB o Auto Racing o Soccer + Entertainment o Movie Reviews o What to Stream o Television o Book Reviews o Music o Celebrity Interviews + Business o Inflation o Financial Markets o Financial Wellness o Technology + Science o Space o Animals o The Ancient World o Climate o Medicine + Fact Check + Oddities + Be Well + Newsletters + Photography o 2024 YEAR END PHOTOS o Photo Essays o Photography o The Americans + AP Investigations + Climate o Indigenous peoples and climate o Climate Questions o Climate Migration o India Focus + Health + Tech o Artificial Intelligence o Social Media + Lifestyle o 2024 Holiday gift guide o Food & Recipes o Gardening o Homes o Travel o Fashion o Pets + Religion + Espanol + Quizzes + AP Buyline Personal Finance + AP Buyline Shopping + Press Releases + My Account [ ] Search Query Submit Search Show Search Submit Search [ ] * World + Mideast Wars + Israel-Hamas War + Russia-Ukraine War + Global Elections + ESPANOL + China + Asia Pacific + Latin America + Europe + Africa + Middle East + Australia SECTIONS Mideast Wars Israel-Hamas War Russia-Ukraine War Global Elections ESPANOL China Asia Pacific Latin America TOP STORIES o Syria's ousted leader Assad says he wanted to keep fighting but Russian allies evacuated him o Death toll in Gaza from the Israel-Hamas war tops 45,000 Palestinians, health officials say o Palestinian security forces launch a rare crackdown on militants in the West Bank Newsletters The Morning Wire Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. The Afternoon Wire Get caught up on what you may have missed throughout the day. See All Newsletters * U.S. TOP STORIES o 3 dead, others injured in a shooting at a private Christian school in Wisconsin o Survivors seek a reckoning as FBI investigates child sex abuse in little-known Christian sect o Takeaways from AP's reporting on a child sex abuse crisis inside a secretive Christian sect Newsletters The Morning Wire Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. The Afternoon Wire Get caught up on what you may have missed throughout the day. See All Newsletters * Politics + Election 2024 + Results + Trump transition + AP VoteCast + AP Race Call Explainers + Explaining 2024 + En Espanol SECTIONS Election 2024 Results Trump transition AP VoteCast AP Race Call Explainers Explaining 2024 En Espanol TOP STORIES o Trump weighs in on NY mayor, vaccines and drones in freewheeling press conference at Mar-a-Lago o TikTok asks the Supreme Court for an emergency order to block a US ban unless it's sold o Trump says he's a 'believer' in polio vaccine, and other news conference takeaways Newsletters Ground Game Exclusive insights and key stories from the world of politics. See All Newsletters * Sports + AP Top 25 + NFL + NBA + NHL + Men's College Basketball + Women's College Basketball + MLB + Auto Racing + Soccer SECTIONS AP Top 25 NFL NBA NHL Men's College Basketball Women's College Basketball MLB Auto Racing TOP STORIES o Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes has high-ankle sprain, status for Houston remains unclear, AP source says o Norfolk State interviews Michael Vick to be its football coach, according to report o Dolphins' Grant DuBose has movement in extremities after scary hit to the head vs. Texans Newsletters AP Top 25 Poll Alerts Get email alerts for every college football Top 25 Poll release. The Sports Wire Your home base for in-depth reporting from the world of sports. See All Newsletters * Entertainment + Movie Reviews + What to Stream + Television + Book Reviews + Music + Celebrity Interviews SECTIONS Movie Reviews What to Stream Television Book Reviews Music Celebrity Interviews TOP STORIES o Former TV host Carlos Watson gets nearly 10 years in prison in case about failed startup Ozy Media o These three new sports dramas punch above their weight o Stage spoofs of Hallmark TV movies are Christmas gifts for theaters * Business + Inflation + Financial Markets + Financial Wellness + Technology SECTIONS Inflation Financial Markets Financial Wellness Technology TOP STORIES o Federal Reserve is likely to slow its rate cuts with inflation pressures still elevated o Trump weighs in on NY mayor, vaccines and drones in freewheeling press conference at Mar-a-Lago o Journalists anticipate a renewed hostility toward their work under the incoming Trump administration * Science + Space + Animals + The Ancient World + Climate + Medicine SECTIONS Space Animals The Ancient World Climate Medicine TOP STORIES o How old are Saturn's rings? Study suggests they could be 4.5 billion years old just like the planet o Ancient genes pinpoint when humans and Neanderthals mixed and mingled o How to catch the Geminids, one of the strongest meteor showers of the year * Fact Check TOP STORIES o FACT FOCUS: Inspector general's Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup o FACT FOCUS: Vermont ruling does not say schools can vaccinate children without parental consent o FACT FOCUS: Posts misrepresent Biden administration spending on EV charging stations * Oddities * Be Well TOP STORIES o Stay sober and have a jolly holiday season with these expert tips o Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace o More beans and less red meat: Nutrition experts weigh in on US dietary guidelines * Newsletters Newsletters AP News Alerts Keep your pulse on the news with breaking news alerts from The AP. The Morning Wire Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Ground Game Exclusive insights and key stories from the world of politics. Beyond the Story Executive Editor Julie Pace brings you behind the scenes of the AP newsroom. AP Top 25 Poll Alerts Get email alerts for every college football Top 25 Poll release. AP Top 25 Women's Basketball Poll Alerts Women's college basketball poll alerts and updates. See All Newsletters * Photography + 2024 YEAR END PHOTOS + Photo Essays + Photography + The Americans SECTIONS 2024 YEAR END PHOTOS Photo Essays Photography The Americans TOP STORIES o Associated Press 100 Photos of 2024: An epic catalog of humanity o See entertainment's biggest moments in 2024, through the lens of Associated Press photographers o AP's top sports photos of the year are worth a close look Newsletters The World in Pictures Get The AP's most compelling photographs sent directly to your inbox. See All Newsletters * AP Investigations * Climate + Indigenous peoples and climate + Climate Questions + Climate Migration + India Focus SECTIONS Indigenous peoples and climate Climate Questions Climate Migration India Focus TOP STORIES o Can U.N. summits save the planet? A faltering year of talks brings up questions about the process o American chestnuts are part of Yuletide lore. But in the US, they've nearly been wiped out o UN talks fail to reach agreement on dealing with rising risk of global drought * Health TOP STORIES o Are you catching holiday blues instead of cheer? Here are some ways to find peace o Some breast cancer patients can avoid certain surgeries, studies suggest o More beans and less red meat: Nutrition experts weigh in on US dietary guidelines o America is trying to fix its maternal mortality crisis with federal, state and local programs o Europe offers clues for solving America's maternal mortality crisis o Rural communities of color across the US find new ways to get the health care they need * Tech + Artificial Intelligence + Social Media SECTIONS Artificial Intelligence Social Media TOP STORIES o Insider Q&A: High hopes for Australia social media ban and channeling parental 'fury' over tech o TikTok asks the Supreme Court for an emergency order to block a US ban unless it's sold o US agencies should use advanced technology to identify mysterious drones, Schumer says * Lifestyle + 2024 Holiday gift guide + Food & Recipes + Gardening + Homes + Travel + Fashion + Pets SECTIONS 2024 Holiday gift guide Food & Recipes Gardening Homes Travel Fashion Pets TOP STORIES o US to require passenger vehicles to sound alarms if rear passengers don't fasten their seat belts o Are you catching holiday blues instead of cheer? Here are some ways to find peace o Stage spoofs of Hallmark TV movies are Christmas gifts for theaters * Religion TOP STORIES o 3 dead, others injured in a shooting at a private Christian school in Wisconsin o A second top Church of England cleric is facing calls to resign over his handling of abuse claims o Takeaways from AP's reporting on a child sex abuse crisis inside a secretive Christian sect Newsletters World of Faith Comprehensive global coverage of how religion shapes our world. See All Newsletters * Espanol TOP STORIES o Trump amenaza deportaciones masivas y Centroamerica se prepara ante llegada de migrantes vulnerables o Tiroteo en escuela de Wisconsin deja 3 muertos y varios heridos o Francia envia ayuda a Mayotte tras el ciclon Chido; Macron declara luto nacional o Los muertos en Gaza de la guerra entre Israel y Hamas superan los 45.000, segun palestinos o Assad, presidente depuesto de Siria, queria seguir luchando pero aliados rusos lo evacuaron. * Quizzes * AP Buyline Personal Finance * AP Buyline Shopping * Press Releases * My Account * * Image The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world's population sees AP journalism every day. * + twitter + instagram + facebook * * The Associated Press + ap.org + Careers + Advertise with us + Contact Us + Accessibility Statement + Terms of Use + Privacy Policy + Cookie Settings + Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information + Limit Use and Disclosure of Sensitive Personal Information + CA Notice of Collection * * More From AP News + About + AP News Values and Principles + AP's Role in Elections + AP Leads + AP Definitive Source Blog + AP Images Spotlight Blog + AP Stylebook SECTIONS About AP News Values and Principles AP's Role in Elections AP Leads AP Definitive Source Blog AP Images Spotlight Blog AP Stylebook * * Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Entertainment Popeye and Tintin enter the public domain in 2025 along with novels from Faulkner and Hemingway Popeye and Tintin enter the public domain in 2025 along with novels from Faulkner and Hemingway Image 1 of 2 | This combination of photos show authors Ernest Hemingway in 1950, left, William Faulkner in 1950, center, and John Steinbeck in 1962. (AP Photo) Read More Image 2 of 2 | A helium-filled Popeye balloon appears in the 33rd Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York on Nov. 26, 1959. (AP Photo/File) Read More Popeye and Tintin enter the public domain in 2025 along with novels from Faulkner and Hemingway Image 1 of 2 | This combination of photos show authors Ernest Hemingway in 1950, left, William Faulkner in 1950, center, and John Steinbeck in 1962. (AP Photo) Read More 1 of 2 This combination of photos show authors Ernest Hemingway in 1950, left, William Faulkner in 1950, center, and John Steinbeck in 1962. (AP Photo) Share Share * Copy Link copied * Email * Facebook * X * Reddit * LinkedIn * Pinterest * Flipboard * Print Read More Image 2 of 2 | A helium-filled Popeye balloon appears in the 33rd Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York on Nov. 26, 1959. (AP Photo/File) Read More 2 of 2 A helium-filled Popeye balloon appears in the 33rd Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York on Nov. 26, 1959. (AP Photo/File) Share Share * Copy Link copied * Email * Facebook * X * Reddit * LinkedIn * Pinterest * Flipboard * Print Read More By ANDREW DALTON Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] Share Share * Copy Link copied * Email * Facebook * X * Reddit * LinkedIn * Pinterest * Flipboard * Print Popeye can punch without permission and Tintin can roam freely starting in 2025. The two classic comic characters who first appeared in 1929 are among the intellectual properties becoming public domain in the United States on Jan. 1. That means they can be used and repurposed without permission or payment to copyright holders. This year's crop of newly public artistic creations lacks the landmark vibes of last year's entrance of Mickey Mouse into the public domain. But they include a deep well of canonical works whose 95-year copyright maximums will expire. And the Disney icon's public domain presence expands. "It's a trove! There are a dozen new Mickey cartoons -- he speaks for the first time and dons the familiar white gloves," said Jennifer Jenkins, director of Duke's Center for the Study of the Public Domain . "There are masterpieces from Faulkner and Hemingway, the first sound films from Alfred Hitchcock, Cecil B. DeMille, and John Ford, and amazing music from Fats Waller, Cole Porter, and George Gershwin. Pretty exciting!" Here's a closer look at this year's crop. RELATED COVERAGE Image Kristen Bell set to return as host of Screen Actors Guild Awards next year Image These three new sports dramas punch above their weight Image Stage spoofs of Hallmark TV movies are Christmas gifts for theaters Comics characters loom large Popeye the Sailor, with his bulging forearms, mealy-mouthed speech, and propensity for fistfights, was created by E.C. Segar and made his first appearance in the newspaper strip "Thimble Theater" in 1929, speaking his first words, "'Ja think I'm a cowboy?" when asked if he was a sailor. What was supposed to be a one-off appearance became permanent, and the strip would be renamed "Popeye." But as with Mickey Mouse last year and Winnie the Pooh in 2022, only the earliest version is free for reuse. The spinach that gave the sailor his super-strength was not there from the start, and is the kind of character element that could spawn legal disputes. And the animated shorts featuring his distinctive mumbly voice didn't begin until 1933 and remain under copyright. As does director Robert Altman's 1980 film, starring Robin Williams as Popeye and Shelley Duvall as his oft-fought-over sweetheart Olive Oyl. That movie was tepidly received initially. So was director Steven Spielberg's "Adventures of Tintin" in 2011. But the comics about the boy reporter that inspired it, the creation of Belgian artist Herge, were among the most popular in Europe for much of the 20th century. The simply drawn teen with dots for eyes and bangs like an ocean wave first appeared in a supplement to the Belgian newspaper Le Vingtieme Siecle, and became a weekly feature. The comic also first appeared in the U.S. in 1929. Its signature bright colors -- including Tintin's red hair -- didn't appear until years later, and could, like Popeye's spinach, be the subject of legal disputes. And in much of the world, Tintin won't become public property until 70 years after the 1983 death of his creator. Books show American lit at its height The books becoming public this year read like the syllabus for an American literature seminar. "The Sound and the Fury," arguably William Faulkner's quintessential novel with its modernist stream-of-consciousness style, was a sensation after its publication despite being famously difficult for readers. It uses multiple non-linear narratives to tell the story of a prominent family's ruin in the author's native Mississippi, and would help lead to Faulkner's Nobel Prize. And Ernest Hemingway's "A Farewell to Arms" joins his earlier "The Sun Also Rises" in the public domain. The partly autobiographical story of an ambulance driver in Italy during the First World War cemented Hemingway's status in the American literary canon. It has been frequently adapted for film, TV and radio, which can now be done without permission. John Steinbeck's first novel, "A Cup of Gold," from 1929, will also enter the public domain. The British novelist Virginia Woolf's "A Room of One's Own," an extended essay that would become a landmark in feminism from the modernist literary luminary, is also on the list. Her novel "Mrs. Dalloway" is already in the U.S. public domain. Movie legends in the making While a host of truly major movies will become public in the coming decade, for now early works by major figures from the not-always-stellar early sound era will have to suffice. A decade before he would move to Hollywood and make films like "Psycho," and "Vertigo," Alfred Hitchcock made "Blackmail" in Britain. The film was begun as a silent but shifted to sound during production, resulting in two different versions, one of them the UK's -- and Hitchcock's -- first sound film. John Ford, whose later Westerns would put him among film's most vaunted directors, also made his first foray into sound with 1929's "The Black Watch," an adventure epic that includes Ford's future chief collaborator John Wayne as a young extra. Cecil B. DeMille, already a Hollywood bigwig through silents, made his first talkie with the melodrama "Dynamite." Groucho, Harpo and the other Marx Brothers had their first starring movie roles in 1929's "The Cocoanuts," a forerunner to future classics like "Animal Crackers" and "Duck Soup." "The Broadway Melody," the first sound film and the second film ever to win the Oscar for best picture -- known as "outstanding production" at the time -- will also become public, though it's often ranked among the worst of best picture winners. And after "Steamboat Willie" made the earliest Mickey Mouse public, a dozen more of his animations will get the same status, including "The Karnival Kid," where he spoke for the first time. Music rings out the 20s Songs from the last year of the Roaring Twenties are also about to become public property. Cole Porter's compositions "What Is This Thing Called Love?" and "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" are among the highlights, as is the jazz classic "Ain't Misbehavin', written by Fats Waller and Harry Brooks. "Singin' in the Rain," which would later forever be associated with the 1952 Gene Kelly film, made its debut in the 1929 movie "The Hollywood Revue" and will now be public domain. Different laws regulate sound recordings, and those newly in the public domain date to 1924. They include a recording of "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen" from future star and civil rights icon Marian Anderson, and "Rhapsody in Blue" performed by its composer George Gershwin. Image The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world's population sees AP journalism every day. * The Associated Press + ap.org + Careers + Advertise with us + Contact Us + Accessibility Statement + Terms of Use + Privacy Policy + Cookie Settings + Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information + Limit Use and Disclosure of Sensitive Personal Information + CA Notice of Collection * More From AP News + About + AP News Values and Principles + AP's Role in Elections + AP Leads + AP Definitive Source Blog + AP Images Spotlight Blog + AP Stylebook Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. * twitter * instagram * facebook [p]