(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Kitchen Table Kibitzing 1/6/2026: Public Domain [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2026-01-06 Harald Sohlberg: Røros Main Street (1904) Good evening, Kibitzers! It’s another winter Tuesday featuring the special hot chocolate with cookie-holding saucer, as an expression of sympathy for poor quarter incher, whose unwelcome skunks have lately returned from vacation. I’m writing on Monday night, when an inch of snow is expected overnight, but alas, then it warms up into the 40s and even 50s here for about a week. There’s already snow on the ground, but I expect all of it to be gone by Wednesday. I wish that would mean snow weather for Thinking Fella... You’ve been living in the United States for a while now, so you probably know that January 1 of each year marks the expiration of U.S. copyright protection for creative works (including films, plays, books, poetry, musical compositions, and sound recordings) whose terms are over. You might think this works (and will work) the same every year for everything, but that would not be correct, because laws regarding protection of intellectual property are, let’s say, exciting and dynamic. Here’s what we can say: most kinds of copyrighted works from 1930, 95 years ago, entered the U.S. public domain on January 1, 2026, including musical compositions . The copyright for specific sound recordings is different -- it’s recordings from 1925, 100 years ago, that entered the public domain on January 1. (See the rules chart here.) In today’s KTK, we have some of the 95-year-old musical compositions that entered the U.S. public domain this year. I have stuck with them mostly because 100-year-old sound recordings are harder to find on YouTube. So, you can now sing one of these songs on your TV show, without owing royalties, but that does NOT mean you can play someone else's recording on your TV show! (Also: you have a TV show??) Here are the two articles I consulted for this diary, if you’re interested. They not only explain the legal technicalities more thoroughly, but also list many films, books, and other works that are in this year’s “class”: Copyright Lately, a blog about intellectual property law; and Duke Law School’s Center for the Study of the Public Domain. I Got Rhythm [words: Ira Gershwin, music: George Gershwin] George Gershwin plays at the opening of New York's Manhattan Theatre (shown 3 times from 3 different cameras), August 4, 1931. [3:04] But Not for Me [words: Ira Gershwin, music: George Gershwin] Sarah Vaughan, with Hal Mooney & His Studio Orchestra (Mercury Records, 1958) [3:29] Dream a Little Dream of Me [words: Gus Kahn, music: Fabian Andre & Wilbur Schwandt] Cass Elliot, on British TV show It's Lulu, July 1970. [2:37] Embraceable You [words: Ira Gershwin, music: George Gershwin] Wynton Marsalis, at Newport Jazz Festival, August 1989. [5:56] I’ve Got a Crush on You [words: Ira Gershwin, music: George Gershwin] Frank Sinatra, in 1951 film Meet Danny Wilson. [2:02] Love for Sale [words and music: Cole Porter] Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra (Clef Records, 1952). [3:02] Get Happy [words: Ted Koehler, music: Harold Arlen] Judy Garland, in 1950 film Summer Stock. [3:07] It Happened in Monterey [words: Billy Rose, music: Mabel Wayne] Oscar Peterson Trio (Verve Records 1959). [2:54] On the Sunny Side of the Street [words: Dorothy Fields, music: Jimmy McHugh] Tony Bennett and Willie Nelson (album Duets II: The Great Performances, 2014). [3:08] Body and Soul [words: Edward Heyman, Robert Sour, Frank Eyton, music: Johnny Green] Ella Fitzgerald, with Johnnie Spence and his Orchestra (album Ella Fitzgerald Sings, 1965). [3:44] Memories of You [words: Andy Razaf, music: Eubie Blake] Rosemary Clooney with the Benny Goodman Sextet (Columbia Records, 1956) [3:34] Georgia on My Mind [words: Stuart Gorrell, music: Hoagy Carmichael] Ray Charles with The Raelettes, at Montreux Jazz Festival, July 1997. [5:54] Today’s extra bit comes from There I Ruined It, and it’s maybe a bit dark, but well done. It’s Fleetwood Mac’s Landslide, except about actual landslides. I mean it as an homage to our southern Californians, who must always squint suspiciously at nearby slopes, but please don’t listen if it’s going to freak you out. 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