2025 in public domain

When a work's copyright expires, it enters the public domain. Since laws vary globally, the copyright status of works is not uniform. The following lists list creators whose works entered the public domain in 2025 under the most common copyright regimes.

Worldwide map of copyright term length

Countries with life + 50 years

In most countries of Africa and Asia, as well as Belarus, Bolivia and New Zealand, a work enters the public domain 50 years after the creator's death.

Names	Country	Birth	Death	Occupation	Notable work
Jean Absil	Belgium	23 October 1893	2 February 1974	Composer
Gilbert Archey	New Zealand	4 August 1890	20 October 1974	Zoologist	The Moa, a Study of the Dinornithiformes
Miguel Ángel Asturias	Guatemala	19 October 1899	9 June 1974	Poet-diplomat	El Señor Presidente
Farid al-Atrash	Egypt	1917	26 December 1974	Composer
Kurt Atterberg	Sweden	12 December 1887	15 February 1974	Composer	Compositions
H. E. Bates	United Kingdom	16 May 1905	29 January 1974	Writer	The Darling Buds of May
Erick Berry	United States	4 January 1892	February 1974	Writer	The Winged Girl of Knossos
Bobby Bloom	United States	15 January 1946	28 February 1974	Singer-songwriter	"Montego Bay"
Hector Bolitho	New Zealand	28 May 1897	12 September 1974	Writer	Albert the Good and the Victorian Reign
Buddhadeb Bosu	Bangladesh	1908	1974	Writer
Jorge Camargo Spolidore	Colombia	June 1912	29 January 1974	Composer	"Chatica Linda"
Rosario Castellanos	Mexico	25 May 1925	7 August 1974	Poet, novelist	The Nine Guardians
Nellie Coad	New Zealand	15 October 1883	6 September 1974	Teacher, writer
Phillis Emily Cunnington	United Kingdom	1 November 1887	24 October 1974	Physician, historian	Handbook of English Mediaeval Costume
Maurice Duggan	New Zealand	25 November 1922	11 December 1974	Writer	Summer in the Gravel Pit
Duke Ellington	United States	29 April 1899	24 May 1974	Composer	Duke Ellington discography
Julius Evola	Italy	19 May 1898	11 June 1974	Philosopher	Revolt Against the Modern World
Allal al-Fassi	Morocco	10 January 1910	13 May 1974	Writer	The Independence Movements in Arab North Africa
Dorothy Fields	United States	15 July 1904	28 March 1974	Film lyricist	"The Way You Look Tonight"
Louise Fitzhugh	United States	5 October 1928	19 November 1974	Writer	Harriet the Spy
Georgette Heyer	United Kingdom	16 August 1902	4 July 1974	Writer	List of works by Georgette Heyer
Ali Ismael	Egypt	28 December 1922	16 June 1974	Composer	Fida'i
Marie Luise Kaschnitz	Germany	31 January 1901	10 October 1974	Writer	Menschen und Dinge 1945
Erich Kästner	Germany	23 February 1899	29 July 1974	Poet, screenwriter	Emil and the Detectives
Muhammad Ayub Khan	Pakistan	14 May 1907	19 April 1974	Politician	Books
Pär Lagerkvist	Sweden	23 May 1891	11 July 1974	Writer	Barabbas
Eve Langley	New Zealand	1 September 1904	1 June 1974	Writer	The Pea-Pickers
Charles Lindbergh	United States	4 February 1902	26 August 1974	Aviator, writer	"WE", The Spirit of St. Louis
Eric Linklater	United Kingdom	8 March 1899	7 November 1974	Writer, poet	The Wind on the Moon
Walter Lippmann	United States	23 September 1889	14 December 1974	Writer	Public Opinion
Margaret MacPherson	New Zealand	19 June 1895	14 September 1974	Writer, journalist	A Symposium Against War
P. Schuyler Miller	United States	21 February 1912	13 October 1974	Writer
Henry de Monfreid	France	14 November 1879	13 December 1974	Adventurer, writer	Secrets of the Red Sea
Stanley Mullen	United States	20 June 1911	1974	Artist, writer	Kinsmen of the Dragon
Leslie Munro	New Zealand	26 February 1901	13 February 1974	Politician, writer	United Nations: hope for a divided world
Douglas Robb	New Zealand	1899	1974	Physician, writer	Medical Odyssey
David Alfaro Siqueiros	Mexico	29 December 1896	6 January 1974	Painter, muralist	Portrait of the Bourgeoisie (1939–1940), The March of Humanity (1957–1971)
William Sloane	United States	15 August 1906	25 September 1974	Writer	To Walk the Night
Zaharia Stancu	Romania	7 October 1902	5 December 1974	Writer	Through the Ashes of the Empire
Sheila Stuart	United Kingdom	1892	1974	Writer	Alison's Highland Holiday
Jacqueline Susann	United States	20 August 1918	21 September 1974	Writer	Valley of the Dolls
Sándor Szathmári	Hungary	29 June 1897	16 July 1974	Writer, mechanical engineer	Kazohinia
Whanki Kim	South Korea	3 April 1913	25 July 1974	Painter	What Form, Shall We Meet Again? (어디서 무엇이 되어 다시 만나랴)
Robert Charles Zaehner	United Kingdom	8 April 1913	24 November 1974	Scholar	Zurvan, Mysticism, Our Savage God

Countries with life + 60 years

See also: 2025 in Indian public domain

In Bangladesh, Haiti, India, and Venezuela a work enters the public domain 60 years after the creator's death.

Names	Country	Birth	Death	Occupation	Notable work
Dr. Atl	Mexico	3 October 1875	15 August 1964	Painter, writer
Fernando Leal	Mexico	26 February 1896	7 October 1964	Painter, muralist, lithographer, engraver
Bharathidasan	India	29 April 1891	21 April 1964	Poet	"Tamil Thai Valthu"
Birinchi Kumar Barua	India	16 October 1908	30 March 1964	Scholar, writer
Carlos Brandt	Venezuela	11 October 1875	27 February 1964	Writer
Guru Dutt	India	9 July 1925	10 October 1964	Film director	Pyaasa
Ian Fleming	United Kingdom	28 May 1908	12 August 1964	Writer	James Bond
Mushtaq Hussain Khan	India	1878	13 August 1964	Musician
Jawaharlal Nehru	India	14 November 1889	27 May 1964	Politician	An Autobiography

Countries with life + 70 years

The art of Henri Matisse (left) and Frida Kahlo (right) entered the public domain in Europe in 2025; however, at this time, Kahlo's works remained copyrighted in her native Mexico.

See also: Works that entered the public domain in countries with life + 50 years in 2005

Except for Belarus (Life + 50 years)^[1] and Spain (which has a copyright term of Life + 80 years for creators that died before 1988), a work enters the public domain in Europe 70 years after the creator's death, if it was published during the creator's lifetime.^[2][3] The same term applies in much of South America, and parts of western Africa. As such, the works of all authors who died in 1954 entered the European public domain in 2025.

Two of the most important authors whose works entered the European public domain in 2025 were Henri Matisse, one of the most revolutionary artists of the early 20th century and a key figure in multiple art movements; and Frida Kahlo, arguably the most recognized Mexican painter. At this time, the latter's works remained copyrighted in her native country. Other significant examples of authors whose works entered the public domain included actor and film director Lionel Barrymore (already partially public domain in his native United States), architects Auguste Perret and William Van Alen (the respective designers of the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris and the Chrysler Building in New York City), cartoonists Bud Fisher and George McManus, Italian composers Franco Alfano and Achille Longo, German composers Walter Braunfels and Herms Niel, Austrian composer Fred Raymond, American composers Charles Ives and Arthur Johnston (the latter of whom wrote "Cocktails for Two"), Man with a Movie Camera director Dziga Vertov, founding father of Chinese cinema Zhang Shichuan (already public domain in his native China), French painters André Derain and Jacques Gachot [fr], Portuguese sculptor Maximiano Alves, gospel blues musician Washington Phillips, Lost Horizon author James Hilton, British novelist Francis Brett Young, Gigi author Colette, German author of the Dr. Mabuse novels Norbert Jacques, German writer and filmmaker Thea von Harbou, Italian writer Enrico Cavacchioli [it], American novelist Maxwell Bodenheim, and Australian writer Miles Franklin. Spanish writer Jacinto Benavente's works also entered the public domain in European countries other than his native Spain. The publications of mathematicians Gino Loria and Alan Turing and physicist Enrico Fermi also entered the public domain, along with an experimental film by the inventor of the cinematograph, Auguste Lumière.

Countries with life + 80 years

See also: Works that entered the public domain in countries with life + 70 years in 2015

Spain has a copyright term of life + 80 years for creators that died before 1987. In Colombia and Equatorial Guinea, a work enters the public domain 80 years after the creator's death.

Names	Country	Birth	Death	Occupation	Notable work
Joaquín Álvarez Quintero	Spain	20 January 1873	14 June 1944	Playwright
Miguel Asín Palacios	Spain	5 July 1871	12 August 1944	Scholar	El Islam cristianizado
Manuel Chaves Nogales	Spain	7 August 1879	8 May 1944	Writer, journalist	Juan Belmonte, matador de toros; su vida y sus hazañas
Enrique Díez Canedo	Spain	7 January 1879	6 June 1944	Poet
Francisco Gómez-Jordana Sousa	Spain	1 February 1876	3 August 1944	Politician	Milicia y Diplomacia: Diarios Del Conde de Jordana, 1936–1944
Elías Mauricio Soto Uribe	Colombia	22 September 1858	11 October 1944	Instrumentalist
Antonio Videgain	Spain	10 March 1869	9 February 1944	Composer

Russia

See also: Copyright law of Russia

Russia has a copyright term of life + 70 years in general, with two special provisions:

• extra 4 years for those who fought in or worked during the so-called Great Patriotic War in 1941–1945, and/or
• copyright term starting from the date of rehabilitation for unlawfully prosecuted and posthumously rehabilitated.

1954 marks the first large wave of posthumous rehabilitations.

Names	Country	Birth	Death	Occupation	Notable work
Pavel Bazhov	Soviet Union	27 January 1879	3 December 1950	Writer	The Malachite Box
Yustin Djanelidze	Soviet Union	1 August 1883	14 January 1950	Doctor	A case of the repair of an injury of the ascending aorta
Sigizmund Krzhizhanovsky	Soviet Union	11 February 1887	28 December 1950	Writer	The New Gulliver
Andrey Kryachkov	Soviet Union	24 November 1876	25 August 1950	Architect	100-Flat Building
Nikolai Luzin	Soviet Union	9 December 1883	28 February 1950	Mathematician	Lusin's theorem
Nikolai Myaskovsky	Soviet Union	20 April 1881	8 August 1950	Composer	List of compositions by Nikolai Myaskovsky
Antonina Nezhdanova	Soviet Union	16 June 1873	26 June 1950	Singer	Vocalise
Vladimir Sorin [de]	Soviet Union	1893	October 1944	Historian	Lenin in the Brest days
Viktor Vesnin	Soviet Union	9 April 1882	17 September 1950	Architect	Palace of Culture of the Proletarsky district, Moscow

Australia and Canada

See also: Copyright law of Australia and Copyright law of Canada

In 2004 copyright in Australia changed from a "plus 50" law to a "plus 70" law, in line with the United States and the European Union. But the change was not made retroactive (unlike the 1995 change in the European Union which brought some (British and possibly other) authors back into copyright, especially those who died from 1925 to 1944). Hence, the work of an author who died before 1955 is normally in the public domain in Australia; but the copyright of authors was extended to 70 years after death for those who died in 1955 or later, and no more Australian authors would come out of copyright until 1 January 2026 (those who died in 1955).^[4]

Similarly, Canada amended its Copyright Act in 2022 from a "plus 50" law to a "plus 70" law, coming into force on December 30, 2022, but does not revive expired copyright.^[5][6] No more new Canadian authors will come out of copyright until 1 January 2043 (those who died in 1972). Crown copyright was not changed, thus any government works published in 1974 entered the public domain in 2025.^[7]

United States

See also: Public domain in the United States

An overview of media that entered the public domain in the United States in 2025.

The original version of Tintin (seen here with his dog Snowy) was among the characters who entered the public domain in the United States in 2025.

Under the Copyright Term Extension Act, books and other works published in 1929 and films released in 1929 entered the public domain in 2025.^[8][9] Unpublished works whose authors died in 1954 also entered the public domain.^[8] The character Captain Easy,^[10] Popeye the Sailor Man,^[a] Disney's Horace Horsecollar, and Hergé's Tintin entered the public domain through their respective debut appearances in 2025.^[11][b] The same happened for the first Tarzan strips illustrated by Hal Foster.^[10] On the other hand, the character Buck Rogers (who also first appeared in U.S. newspapers the same year) was already in the public domain as his first strips failed to have their copyrights renewed, despite claims to the contrary.^[12]

Two notable music compositions that entered the public domain in 2025 were George Gershwin's An American in Paris and Maurice Ravel's Boléro; though composed in 1928, they were not published until 1929.^[12] Among the popular songs that entered the public domain that year were Fats Waller's song "Ain't Misbehavin'", Cole Porter's song "What Is This Thing Called Love?", the musical number "Singin' in the Rain", "Tip Toe Through the Tulips", "Happy Days Are Here Again", "Am I Blue?", "You Were Meant For Me",^[12] "Honeysuckle Rose" (also written by Waller), "Can't We Be Friends?", and "Without A Song".^[13] Sound recordings that were published in 1924 also entered the public domain,^[8] including the first recordings of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, Jelly Roll Morton's "King Porter Stomp", Irving Berlin's songs "Lazy"^[12] and "What'll I Do?",^[13] "It Had to Be You", "California, Here I Come",^[12] and "Somebody Loves Me".^[13]

The Broadway Melody, MGM's first musical film and the winner of the second Academy Award for Best Picture, entered the public domain in 2025.

Notable films that entered the public domain in 2025 included the following:^[12][13]

• The Cocoanuts, the first film of the Marx Brothers;
• The Broadway Melody, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's first musical film and the first sound film (and second overall film) to win the Academy Award for Best Picture;
• The Hollywood Revue, MGM's second musical film, starring Conrad Nagel and Jack Benny, which popularized "Singin' in the Rain";
• Walt Disney's first Silly Symphony cartoons, including The Skeleton Dance;
• Blackmail, Alfred Hitchcock's first sound film and the first British sound film;
• Hallelujah, one of the first films with an all-African American cast produced by a major studio;
• The Wild Party, Clara Bow's first sound film;
• Welcome Danger, Harold Lloyd's first sound film;
• On with the Show!, the first sound film in color;
• Pandora’s Box (Die Büchse der Pandora), directed by G. W. Pabst and starring Louise Brooks;
• Show Boat, adapted from and featuring some songs of the 1927 musical;
• The Black Watch, John Ford's first sound film;
• Spite Marriage, Buster Keaton's final full-length feature as a director;
• Say It with Songs, the first all-talking film starring Al Jolson;
• Dynamite, Cecil B. DeMille's first sound film;
• Gold Diggers of Broadway, directed by Roy del Ruth, the second sound film in color;
• Mickey Mouse's cartoons released in 1929, including The Karnival Kid (his first speaking appearance);
• the sound versions of Mickey's earlier cartoons Plane Crazy and The Gallopin' Gaucho;
• Small Talk, the first sound film in the Our Gang series;
• Eternal Love, John Barrymore's last silent film;
• The Virginian, Gary Cooper's and Victor Fleming's first sound film;
• The Return of Sherlock Holmes, the first sound film to star the titular detective;
• Bulldog Drummond, the first sound film to star the character of the same name;
• The Three Masks (Les trois masques), the first French sound film;
• Behind That Curtain, the first sound film to star the character Charlie Chan;
• Where East Is East, Lon Chaney's last collaboration with Tod Browning;
• Land Without Women (Das Land ohne Frauen), the first German sound film;
• The Desert Song, also directed by Roy del Ruth;
• Applause, the directorial debut of Rouben Mamoulian;
• Disraeli, starring George Arliss in the title role;
• Woman in the Moon (Frau im Mond), directed by Fritz Lang; and
• The Love Parade, Ernst Lubitsch's first sound film and the debut film for Jeanette MacDonald.

A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway

Significant literary works entering the public domain included Ernest Hemingway's novel A Farewell to Arms, Virginia Woolf's essay A Room of One's Own, William Faulkner's novel The Sound and the Fury, Oliver La Farge's novel Laughing Boy, Walter Lippmann's A Preface to Morals, James Thurber's Is Sex Necessary? Or, Why You Feel the Way You Do (co-written by E. B. White), Robert Graves' autobiography Good-Bye to All That, Patrick Hamilton's play Rope, Richard Hughes' A High Wind in Jamaica, John Steinbeck's first novel Cup of Gold, Dashiell Hammett's novel Red Harvest and the original serialized version of his Maltese Falcon, the first English translation of Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front, Agatha Christie's crime novel The Seven Dials Mystery, The Roman Hat Mystery by Ellery Queen,^[12] Alfred Döblin's novel Berlin Alexanderplatz in its original German, S. S. Van Dine's detective novel The Scarab Murder Case, Sinclair Lewis' novel Dodsworth, the children's book Hitty, Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field, Thomas Wolfe's novel Look Homeward, Angel, Jean Cocteau's novel Les Enfants Terribles in its original French, and William Seabrook's novel The Magic Island, the first book to introduce the concept of a zombie.^[13]

Important artworks that entered the public domain included Salvador Dalí's paintings The Great Masturbator and The Accommodations of Desire, Wassily Kandinsky's painting Upward, Edward Hopper's painting Chop Suey, Kawamura Kiyoo's painting Founding of the Nation, Julio Romero de Torres' painting La Fuensanta, M. C. Escher's print Strada di Scanno, the first design of the Barcelona chair, and August Sander's photograph Berlin Coal Carrier and other photographs from his 1929 photobook Face of our Time. The public domain status of René Magritte's painting The Treachery of Images is contentious.^{[needs update][12]}

Worldwide

On February 25, 2025, it was announced that the 3D printing computermodel 3DBenchy will enter the public domain through a CC0-license.^[14][15]

A 3D printable computermodel of the sculpture Best Friends Forever in which Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein are holding hands is released into the public domain.^[16]

See also

• List of American films of 1929
• 1954 in literature and 1974 in literature for deaths of writers
• Public Domain Day
• Creative Commons

Notes

1. Of those Thimble Theatre strips from 1929 that Popeye appears in, only his debut strip had its copyright renewed properly by King Features Syndicate.
2. Tintin was not published in the United States until 1959; therefore, the American localization of his character will remain under copyright until 2055.