Intellectual Property Insights from Fishman Stewart
Mini Article – Volume 25, Issue 1
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Happy Public Domain Day
By Kristyn Webb
Public Domain Day is celebrated on January 1st and commemorates the expiration of copyright protection for certain creative works. US copyright law provides the copyright owner with certain exclusive rights for a limited time, after which the works fall into the public domain. Once a work enters the public domain, anyone is free to copy, publish, distribute, adapt, and otherwise use the work without infringing the rights of the former copyright owner.
Last year, we welcomed an early version of Mickey Mouse known as “Steamboat Willie.” This year, we welcome 15 more Mickey Mouse animations from 1929, including versions of Mickey wearing his famous white gloves:
We also welcome the characters Popeye and Tintin. Notable musical compositions entering the public domain include George Gershwin’s An American In Paris, and (one of my favorite pieces) Maurice Ravel’s Bolero.
Kristyn Webb is an attorney with Fishman Stewart’s Copyright Practice Group, and holds a master’s degree in copyright law from King’s College London.
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