Fans of the 1930s character Betty Boop can rejoice as a precursor of the iconic cartoon is now in the public domain, as of Jan. 1, 2026.
That means anyone can adapt that specific version of Betty Boop, which appeared in the Dizzy Dishes cartoon, into their own creative work without being subject to copyright laws.
This version of Betty Boop featured her characteristic large eyes and pout but also had elongated dog ears. Her romantic interest at the time was a dog chef, hence her surreal canine appearance.
In 2026, Betty Boop is joined in the public domain by other popular characters, books, films, and songs, including new Mickey Mouse cartoons and comics; the Blondie comic strip characters Blondie and Dagwood; William Faulkner’s novel As I Lay Dying, the illustrated version of Watty Piper’s children’s book The Little Engine That Could; the film All Quiet on the Western Front; and the standards “Dream a Little Dream of Me” and “Georgia on My Mind,” previously recorded by famous acts like The Mamas & the Papas and Ray Charles, respectively.
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These and other creative works now in the public domain can be used without permission or payment. However, people should pay close attention to what version of the work is eligible for use.
Fleischer Studios, which appears to own the copyright to the fully developed Betty Boop character, pointed out that the expiration of that copyright does not apply to other Betty Boop copyrights and trademarks still in effect.
While nine early Mickey Mouse cartoons are now in the public domain, the Mickey Mouse character is still subject to enduring rights. (For more on these legal complexities, check out Mashable’s story on the arrival of Popeye to the public domain in 2025.)
Here’s some of the notable and beloved works entering the public domain in 2026, according to Duke University’s Center for the Study of the Public Domain:
Comics, character, and cartoons
Films
Literature
Musical Compositions
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“Georgia on My Mind,” written by Stuart Gorrell and Hoagy Carmichael
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“Dream a Little Dream of Me,” written by Fabian Andre, Wilbur Schwandt, and Gus Kahn
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“On the Sunny Side of the Street,” by Dorothy Fields and Jimmy McHugh
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“I Got Rhythm,” “I’ve Got a Crush on You,” “But Not for Me,” and “Embraceable You,” written by Ira Gershwin and George Gershwin
