Public Domain Day

New Year’s Day is often celebrated as a way to recover from the previous night, but January 1st is also known as Public Domain Day. It is an event that is often overlooked despite its significance in education and innovation.

On January 1st, 2024, most works that were published in 1928 have now entered the public domain. When a creative work like a book, film, or song are developed, they naturally are protected by copyright law. This generally means that no one can reproduce or take ownership of the work without the permission of the owner.

However, copyright does not last forever.

Eventually, copyright expires and is then given to the public to do whatever they please with the source. Not only are works in the public domain free, but they are also be changed and altered without seeking permission.

Watch the brief video below to see what has entered the public domain this year:
 

For a more detailed list of works in the public domain, check out Duke University’s Public Domain Day 2024.