Copyright, copyright registration, Literary, Music, Uncategorized

Public Domain Works – 2026

On January 1, 2026, works published in 1930 (in the United States) and sound recordings from 1925 enter the public domain in the United States. This means anyone is free to use, share or adapt these works without violating copyright law.

Literary titles now in the public domain include: The Maltese Falcon by Dashiel Hammett, The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie, The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper.

Sound Recordings include: Yes Sir, That’s My Baby recorded by Gene Austin, Fascinating Rhythm, recorded by the Paul Whiteman Orchestra and several Louis Armstrong recordings.  Remember though, if you want to use these recordings you don’t have to pay for a license to the sound recording but you will have to pay a license

Musical Compositions include: Georgia on My Mind by Gorell & Carmichael and the song Dream a Little Dream of Me by Kahn, Andre & Schwandt.  Musical compositions in the public domain are free for anyone to copy, perform, record, adapt, or interpolate into their own song.

Only the musical compositions – the music and lyrics that you might see on a piece of sheet music – are entering the public domain, not the recordings of these songs, which are covered by the sound recording copyright and have a different term of protection.

For more information, go to Public Domain Day 2026.

 

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