Summary
As of 2025, works from 1929, including early versions of Popeye and Tintin, have entered the public domain in the U.S., allowing free reuse and adaptation.
Iconic works now public include The Skeleton Dance (Disney’s Silly Symphonies), Alfred Hitchcock’s Blackmail, William Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury, Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials Mystery, and Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own.
However, Tintin remains under copyright in the EU until 2054.
This follows recent public domain entries like Steamboat Willie-era Mickey Mouse in 2024, with Betty Boop and Pluto set to join in 2026.
A trademark is just a symbol used to show something was made by a certain entity. They aren’t about the things themselves.
Eg the Nintendo logo is a trademark but the characters like Mario, Link, and Sonic aren’t.
Though it can get a bit fuzzy when characters are used as trademarks, Nintendo couldn’t just say “Mario is our spokesman” to gain indefinite protection on him. But, even if Mario wasn’t covered by copyright, someone else couldn’t use him to act as if Nintendo endorsed their product.
Sounds like Nintendo might disagree with you…
https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Legal-information/Nintendo-s-Anti-Piracy-Programme/Anti-Piracy-and-Legal-Frequently-Asked-Questions/What-are-Trademarks-/What-are-Trademarks-732161.html
Especially when a character is a form of logo.