With the flip of the calendar to a new year, the United States is also enjoying the addition of several new titles to the public domain. Public domain materials are no longer covered by copyright protections, which means the content can be freely used without having to obtain permission or to pay a fee to the owner. Printed materials often enter Project Gutenberg so people can read public domain books at that site for free! If you live in another country, consult your country’s laws regarding public domain because they are specific to each country.
Books aren’t the only materials to enter into the public domain. Films, music and other audio, and images are also included. So, what are some of the new additions to the public domain for 2024?
Books
- The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne—While the book is entering public domain, the image of Pooh wearing a red shirt was a later iteration and won’t actually enter public domain until 2061. Until then, the original images of Pooh and his friends found in this book are the only ones available for common use.
- The Missing Chums, Hunting for Hidden Gold, and The Shore Road Mystery, Books 4, 5, and 6 of the Hardy Boys mystery series by Franklin W. Dixon—These three books join the first three books of the series, which entered public domain in 2023.
- Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle by Edgar Rice Burroughs—This is the eleventh book in the Tarzan series.
- Millions of Cats by Wanda Gág—This beloved children’s picture book won a Newbery Honor award in 1929.
- All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque—If you want to read this book about the harsh conditions of the German front in World War I in 2024, you will need to know German. The English version, translated by A.W. Wheen, won’t be available until next year.
- The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie—This book is the sixth in the series featuring Hercule Poirot.
- Mr. Blettsworthy on Rampole Island by H.G. Wells—The English author H.G. Wells is known for his science fiction novels, including The Time Machine and The War of the Worlds.
- Peter Pan; or, The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up by J.M. Barrie—This entry has an interesting history. The novel Peter Pan was based upon this play. While the novel is in the public domain, the play upon which the novel was based wasn’t officially published until 1928 despite being performed many times for more than twenty years prior to its publication.
Films
The fact that films are now entering the public domain is rather new. It wasn’t until the beginning of the twentieth century that movies became available for general audience viewing. “Talkies,” or talking movies, are an even newer concept. They began to replace silent films between 1926 and 1930 (Kehr), so nearly all films currently in the public domain are silent.
- Steamboat Willie—This film is perhaps the most talked about addition to the public domain because it is the first film starring Mickey Mouse. Only seven minutes in length, the black and white film introduces the now globally famous mouse to the world, albeit in an earlier form that differs from the mouse most are familiar with today.
- The Circus—Silent film star Charlie Chaplin is known for his comedic roles. This film is a romantic comedy featuring the actor.
- The Passion of Joan of Arc—This film, directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer, is considered a masterpiece of the silent film age.
by Jennifer Mauser
Work Cited
Kehr, Dave. “When Hollywood Learned to Talk, Sing and Dance.” The New York Times, 15 Jan. 2010,
www.nytimes.com/2010/01/17/movies/homevideo/17kehr.html?auth=login-google1tap&login=google1tap
