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Happy New Year and Happy International Public Domain Day on January 1! This special day marks the expiration of copyright protection for works published in the United States 95 years ago. This means that classic books, films, music, and other forms of media from 1925 are now free to be used, shared, and adapted by anyone without fear of legal repercussions. It's a time to celebrate creativity and the power of public domain to inspire new creations. So let's raise a glass to all the amazing works that have entered the public domain and get ready for some exciting new projects!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1886</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Birth of International Copyright Law</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, an international agreement governing copyright, was established in 1886.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1923</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>American Copyright Act</div><div class='timeline-text'>The United States passed a copyright act in 1923, which heavily influenced the course of public domain worldwide.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1998</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Copyright Term Extension Act</div><div class='timeline-text'>The US Congress passed the Copyright Term Extension Act, significantly extending the term of copyrights.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2000</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Start of Public Domain Day</div><div class='timeline-text'>Public Domain Day was first observed on January 1, 2000, to acknowledge and celebrate works that entered the public domain.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2019</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>End of Copyright Extension</div><div class='timeline-text'>US saw the first sizable addition to the public domain since 1998 due to the expiration of the Copyright Term Extension Act's impact.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Host a public domain movie marathon</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Gather some friends and family and have a movie marathon featuring films that are now in the public domain. This is a great way to celebrate the day and also discover some hidden cinematic gems.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Create public domain themed artwork</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Get creative and make some artwork inspired by works in the public domain. This could include illustrations, paintings, or even digital art.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Attend a public domain book club</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Join or start a book club that focuses on reading books that are now in the public domain. This is a great way to celebrate the day and also discover some classic literature.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Have a public domain music jam session</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Gather some musician friends and have a jam session featuring songs that are now in the public domain. This is a great way to celebrate the day and also showcase some lesser known musical pieces.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Donate to a public domain preservation organization</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Support organizations that work towards preserving public domain works by making a donation in honor of International Public Domain Day. This is a great way to give back and support the continued availability of these important works.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Preserves cultural and historical works</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>International Public Domain Day celebrates the expiration of copyright on creative works, allowing them to be freely used and shared by the public. This promotes access to important cultural artifacts and historical materials, preserving them for future generations.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Encourages innovation and creativity</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>By entering into the public domain, these creative works become accessible to everyone for inspiration and adaptation. This allows for new ideas and creations to flourish, building upon the foundation laid by previous artists and thinkers.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Promotes a more open and inclusive society</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>The public domain encourages diversity of thought and culture, as people from all backgrounds have access to creative works without restriction. It also enables individuals who cannot afford expensive copyrighted materials to educate themselves and participate in society.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div class='facts-content-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Public Domain Works are Not Subject to Copyright Laws</h3><p class='facts-content'>Once a work enters the public domain, it's no longer protected by intellectual property laws. It means anyone can use the work however they wish without obtaining permission or giving credit to the original creator.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div class='facts-content-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Public Domain Day Celebrates the Expiration of Copyrights</h3><p class='facts-content'>Each year on January 1st, International Public Domain Day celebrates the moment when older works of literature, music, film, art, and more lose their copyright protections and enter the public domain.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div class='facts-content-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Copyright Duration Varies by Country</h3><p class='facts-content'>The length of time it takes for a copyright to expire and its work to enter the public domain varies from country to country. In many countries, it's life of the author plus 70 years.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div class='facts-content-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Not All Work Automatically Becomes Part of the Public Domain Upon Copyright Expiration</h3><p class='facts-content'>In some cases, even after a copyright expires, a work may not immediately enter the public domain. This is because of variations in copyright laws between countries and sometimes due to legal challenges.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div class='facts-content-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Public Domain Facilitates Creativity and Innovation</h3><p class='facts-content'>Public domain provides a wealth of freely accessible material, which can be utilized for creation, innovation, research, education, and cultural preservation.</p></div></div>
International Public Domain Day is celebrated on January 1 every year. In 2024 International Public Domain Day will occur on a Monday.
2023
Jan 1
Sunday
2024
Jan 1
Monday
2025
Jan 1
Wednesday
2026
Jan 1
Thursday
2027
Jan 1
Friday
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