So the copyright on the works of fantasy author J.R.R. Tolkien, who died in 1973, will now expire in 2043, meaning the Lord of the Rings trilogy and many of his other works will become public domain on Jan. 1, 2044.

Are Tolkien's works public domain?

Under the Berne Convention, copyright protections last at least 50 years after the death of the author, although many countries provide additional protection for up to 70 years. That would suggest sometime between 2023 and 2043 for most of Tolkien's work.

How long until Silmarillion is public domain?

It has been speculated that copyright protection on The Silmarillion will expire in 2043 and will then be free for anyone to adapt. Under UK law, copyright protection lasts for 70 years after the author dies (Tolkien died in 1973).

Will Harry Potter ever be public domain?

As Copyright.gov notes, “a general rule, for works created after January 1, 1978, copyright protection lasts for the life of the author plus an additional 70 years.” This is why no one can predict when the Harry Potter character will enter the public domain.

What goes into public domain 2024?

This iteration of Mickey Mouse will be the one to enter the public domain — other versions of the character have copyrights that will expire later. Disney has made “Steamboat Willie” (a film just shy of eight minutes) available on YouTube for public consumption.

Will any more of Tolkien's work be published?

Will Batman ever be public domain?

Copyright law in the United States dictates that works published after the 95th year of publication will no longer be affected by copyright. This means that characters such as Superman, Wonder Woman, Mickey Mouse, Captain America, and Batman will be entering the public domain within the next 15 years.

Will Superman ever be public domain?

The copyright term for a comic book published in the 1930s up through 1978 ends at the end of the year 95 years after initial publication. Thus, Action Comics #1, the first appearance of Superman and cover dated June 1938, will enter public domain beginning January 1, 2034.

Will Disney characters ever be public domain?

According to US copyright law, the rights for a character expire 95 years after the publication of the original work. Disney will lose the Mickey Mouse copyright for Steamboat Willie in 2024, since the short animated film was produced and distributed in 1928.

Does J.K. Rowling still own the copyright to Harry Potter?

J.K. ROWLING'S WIZARDING WORLD is a trademark of J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Materials from the Harry Potter series of films and from the film Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them are courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment.

Why is Bambi public domain?

Disney argued that because Salten's original 1923 publication of the novel did not include a copyright notice, by American law it was immediately considered a public domain work.

Can I use the word Hobbit?

The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, and the places, items, characters and events depicted in those books and films represent our intellectual property. To use any of those names (trademarks) as a business name without permission is unlawful.

Why couldn t Rings of Power get rights to Silmarillion?

Why didn't Amazon buy the rights to Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales instead of the LOTR saga? Because the Estate wasn't putting them up for sale, and if they had, they wouldn't have been able to sell them to whoever they wanted.

Why didn't Tolkien publish The Silmarillion?

Tolkien wished to make the mythology more believable by bringing it into line with the Round World version of the creation story. He was persuaded not to do this in 1946; later attempts conflicted with the already published texts of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

Is Dune in public domain?

Unfortunately for 'SpiceDOA', the collective who purchased the Jodorowsky Dune Bible, Frank Herbert died in 1986, meaning copyright persists in the base text of Dune until at least 2056.

Who owns copyright to Silmarillion?

The Silmarillion has never been adapted to the screen, big or small. Tolkien didn't sell off the rights to it in 1966, mainly because it wasn't done yet, so they remain with the Tolkien Estate.

Are the seven dwarves public domain?

Such titles are in the public domain in many countries, particularly those outside the US and Europe. However, this title most likely remains copyrighted under United States law, where works copyrighted in 1928 or later can remain under copyright for up to 95 years after publication.

Is J.K. Rowling a billionaire?

Rowling denied that she was a billionaire in a 2005 interview. By 2012, Forbes concluded she was no longer a billionaire due to her charitable donations and high UK taxes. She was named the world's highest paid author by Forbes in 2008, 2017 and 2019.

How much is J.K. Rowling worth 2023?

British author Joanne Rowling, also known as J.K. Rowling, is the richest author in the world with a net worth of $1 billion.

How do you avoid Harry Potter copyright?

Obtain Permission

If you intend to use a character directly from the Harry Potter series, obtaining explicit permission from the copyright holder is the safest way to avoid copyright infringement.

Is Bugs Bunny in the public domain?

Mickey Mouse, Batman, Superman and Bugs Bunny all become public domain in the next 10 years. The Hundred Acre Wood has seen some pretty unsettling things over the years.

Is Disney losing copyright to Mickey Mouse?

In 1928, copyrights lasted for 28 years, with the option for renewal of another 28 years. As of 2023, Mickey Mouse was published almost 95 years ago. The copyright of the original Mickey Mouse character – as it appeared in “Steamboat Willie” – expires on January 1, 2024.

What will enter public domain in 2023?

Is Wizard of Oz public domain?

The children's book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, written by L. Frank Baum in 1900 is in the public domain. This follows the general rule that any work published before 1923 is in the public domain. The film, The Wizard of Oz, starring Judy Garland and directed in 1939 by Victor Fleming is NOT in the public domain.

Will Spiderman ever be public domain?

As a direct result of Disney lobbying, in 1998 Congress overhauled the copyright system to retroactively extend everything created between 1923 and 1977 to a 95-year term. That meant Mickey Mouse is safe at Disney until 2023, while Spider-Man won't become public domain until 2057.

Why isn t Tigger public domain?

Disney still maintains the rights to the Winnie the Pooh characters created after 1926, including Tigger. If Tigger or any later character is used without permission, Disney may have a valid claim for infringement.