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2025 in public domain

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When a work's copyright expires, it enters the public domain. The following is a list of creators whose works enter the public domain in 2025. Since laws vary globally, the copyright status of some works are not uniform.

Countries with life + 70 years

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With the exception of Belarus (Life + 50 years) and Spain (which has a copyright term of Life + 80 years for creators that died before 1987), a work enters the public domain in Europe 70 years after the creator's death, if it was published during the creator's lifetime. For previously unpublished material, those who publish it first will have the publication rights for 25 years.

Names Country Birth Death Occupation Notable work
Franco Alfano  Italy 8 March 1875 27 October 1954 Composer List of operas by Franco Alfano
Ahmad Amin  Egypt 1 October 1886 30 May 1954 Writer Dawn of Islam
Oswald de Andrade  Brazil 11 January 1890 22 October 1954 Writer Manifesto Antropófago
Bruno Angoletta  Italy 7 September 1889 7 January 1954 Cartoonist Marmittone
Peter van Anrooy  Netherlands 13 October 1879 31 December 1954 Composer Piet Hein Rhapsodie voor symfonieorkest
John L. Balderston  United States 22 October 1889 8 March 1954 Playwright Berkeley Square, Dracula
Lionel Barrymore  United States 28 April 1878 15 November 1954 Actor, film director Lionel Barrymore on stage, screen and radio
Jacinto Benavente  Spain 12 August 1866 14 July 1954 Writer The Unloved Woman
Frans G. Bengtsson  Sweden 4 October 1894 19 December 1954 Writer The Long Ships
Hakon Børresen  Denmark 2 June 1876 6 October 1954 Composer Den Kongelige Gæst
Vitaliano Brancati  Italy 24 July 1907 25 September 1954 Writer Don Giovanni in Sicilia
Walter Braunfels  Germany 19 December 1882 19 March 1954 Composer Die Vögel
Claude Cahun  France 25 October 1894 8 December 1954 Photographer, writer Disavowals or Cancelled Confessions
Robert Capa  Hungary 22 October 1913 25 May 1954 Photographer The Falling Soldier
Enrico Cavacchioli [it]  Italy 15 March 1885 4 January 1954 Writer Works
Papa Celestin  United States 1 January 1884 15 December 1954 Musician Papa Celestin's Golden Wedding
Colette  France 28 January 1873 3 August 1954 Writer Gigi
Julian Coolidge  United States 28 September 1873 5 March 1954 Mathematician A Treatise on the Circle and the Sphere
Stig Dagerman  Sweden 5 October 1923 4 November 1954 Writer, journalist A Burnt Child
Jibanananda Das  India 17 February 1899 22 October 1954 Poet Banalata Sen
André Derain  France 10 June 1880 8 September 1954 Painter, sculptor Mountains at Collioure
Carl Eldh  Sweden 10 May 1873 26 January 1954 Sculptor The Branting Monument
Leonard Eugene Dickson  United States 22 January 1874 17 January 1954 Mathematician, writer History of the Theory of Numbers
Enrico Fermi  Italy/ USA 29 September 1901 28 November 1954 Physicist Publications
Arthur Fickenscher  United States 9 March 1885 15 April 1954 Composer and academic Willowwood
Bud Fisher  United States 3 April 1885 7 September 1954 Cartoonist Mutt and Jeff
Miles Franklin  Australia 14 October 1879 19 September 1954 Writer My Brilliant Career
Wilhelm Furtwängler  Germany 10 June 1880 8 September 1954 Conductor, composer Symphony No. 2
E. Ray Goetz  United States 12 June 1886 12 June 1954 Composer, lyricist "For Me and My Gal"
Heinz Guderian  Germany 17 June 1888 14 May 1954 Military officer, writer Achtung – Panzer!, Panzer Leader
Niqula Haddad  Lebanon 1878 1954 Writer
Jack Harvey  United States 16 September 1881 9 November 1954 Film director A Dog's Love
Ferenc Herczeg  Hungary 22 September 1863 24 February 1954 Writer A Gyurkovics-lányok
James Hilton  United Kingdom 9 September 1900 20 December 1954 Writer Goodbye, Mr. Chips, Lost Horizon
Raymond Hubbell  United States 1 June 1879 13 December 1954 Composer, lyricist "Poor Butterfly"
Charles Ives  United States 20 October 1874 19 May 1954 Composer List of compositions by Charles Ives
Hans Janowitz  Germany 2 December 1890 25 May 1954 Screenwriter The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
Norbert Jacques  Germany 6 June 1880 15 May 1954 Writer Dr. Mabuse
Arthur Johnston  United States 10 January 1898 1 May 1954 Composer "Cocktails for Two", "Pennies from Heaven"
Frida Kahlo  Mexico 6 July 1907 13 July 1954 Painter List of paintings by Frida Kahlo
Mikhas Klimkovich  Belarus 20 November 1899 5 November 1954 Poet "My Belarusy"
Kalki Krishnamurthy  India 9 September 1899 5 December 1954 Writer Ponniyin Selvan
Henri Laurens  France 18 February 1885 5 May 1954 Sculptor L'Amphion
Alphonse Laverrière   Switzerland 16 May 1872 11 March 1954 Architect Bois-de-Vaux Cemetery
Alain LeRoy Locke  United States 13 September 1885 9 June 1954 Writer The New Negro
Achille Longo  Italy 28 March 1900 28 May 1954 Composer Compositions
Gino Loria  Italy 19 May 1862 30 January 1954 Mathematician Books
William March  United States 18 September 1893 15 May 1954 Writer Company K
Henri Matisse  France 31 December 1869 3 November 1954 Painter, sculptor List of works by Henri Matisse
Joe May  United States 7 November 1880 29 April 1954 Film director Stuart Webbs
George McManus  United States 23 January 1884 22 October 1954 Cartoonist Bringing Up Father
Zofia Nałkowska  Poland 10 November 1884 17 December 1954 Writer Medallions
Martin Andersen Nexø  Denmark 26 June 1869 1 June 1954 Writer Pelle the Conqueror
Herms Niel  Germany 17 April 1888 16 July 1954 Composer "Erika"
Auguste Perret  France 12 February 1874 25 February 1954 Architect Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
Washington Phillips  United States 11 January 1880 20 September 1954 Singer List of songs recorded by Washington Phillips
Fred Raymond  Austria 20 April 1900 10 January 1954 Composer "I Lost My Heart in Heidelberg", Maske in Blau
Fred Rose  United States 24 August 1898 1 December 1954 Songwriter "Be Honest with Me"
Oscar Straus  Austria 6 March 1870 11 January 1954 Composer Ein Walzertraum
Getúlio Vargas  Brazil 19 April 1882 24 August 1954 Politician Carta Testamento
Alan Turing  United Kingdom 23 June 1912 7 June 1954 Mathematician Turing's proof
William Van Alen  United States 10 August 1883 24 May 1954 Architect Chrysler Building
Dziga Vertov  Soviet Union 2 January 1896 12 February 1954 Film director Man with a Movie Camera
Thea von Harbou  Germany 27 December 1888 1 July 1954 Writer, film director List of works by Thea von Harbou
Hermann Wolfgang von Waltershausen  Germany 12 October 1882 14 June 1954 Composer Oberst Chabert
Hella Wuolijoki  Finland 22 July 1886 2 February 1954 Writer Entäs nyt, Niskavuori?
Francis Brett Young  United Kingdom 29 June 1884 28 March 1954 Writer List of novels of Francis Brett Young
Zhang Shichuan  China 1890 1954 Film director Laborer's Love

Countries with life + 60 years

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

Names Country Birth Death Occupation Notable work
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
Mushtaq Hussain Khan  India 1878 13 August 1964 Musician
Jawaharlal Nehru  India 14 November 1889 27 May 1964 Politician An Autobiography

Countries with life + 50 years

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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
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 January 1946 28 February 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
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
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  Scotland 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
Robert Charles Zaehner  United Kingdom 8 April 1913 24 November 1974 Scholar Zurvan, Mysticism, Our Savage God

Countries with life + 80 years

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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
Enrique Díez Canedo  Spain 7 January 1879 6 June 1944 Poet
Joaquín Álvarez Quintero  Spain 20 January 1873 14 June 1944 Playwright
Antonio Videgain  Spain 10 March 1869 9 February 1944 Composer

Australia and Canada

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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 will come out of copyright until 1 January 2026 (those who died in 1955).[1]

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.[2][3] 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 will enter the public domain in 2025.[4]

United States

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See also: Public domain in the United States
Among the works entering the public domain in the United States in 2025 is the Marx Brothers film The Cocoanuts

Under the Copyright Term Extension Act, books and other works published in 1929 and films released in 1929 will enter the public domain in 2025.[5] Sound recordings that were published in 1924 will also enter the public domain.[6] The characters Buck Rogers,[7] Captain Easy,[8] Horace Horsecollar, Tintin, and Popeye the Sailor Man will enter the public domain in 2025.[9] The same happens for the first Tarzan strips illustrated by Hal Foster that were launched in 1929.[8]

Unpublished works whose authors died in 1954 will enter the public domain in 2025.

Among the films that will enter public domain in 2025 are the following:

Examples of important literary works entering the public domain include Ernest Hemingway's novel A Farewell to Arms, William Seabrook's novel The Magic Island (the first book to introduce the concept of a zombie). Ellery Queen's detective novel The Roman Hat Mystery, Margery Allingham detective novel The Crime at Black Dudley, the first English translation of Erich Maria Remarque's novel All Quiet on the Western Front, Alfred Döblin's novel Berlin Alexanderplatz in its original German, Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay's novel Pather Panchali in its original Bengali, Lynd Ward's wordless novel Gods' Man, William Faulkner's novel The Sound and the Fury, Virginia Woolf's essay A Room of One's Own, Ludwig Wittgenstein's essay Some Remarks on Logical Form and the first part of the 14th edition of Encyclopædia Britannica (full in public domain by 2029).

Important artworks entering the public domain include René Magritte's painting The Treachery of Images, Salvador Dali'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, August Sander's photograph Berlin Coal Carrier and the first design of the Barcelona chair.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "How long does copyright last?". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  2. ^ "An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 7, 2022 and other measures". Parliament of Canada. 2022-06-23. Retrieved 2022-11-28.
  3. ^ "PC Number: 2022-1219". Government of Canada. 2022-11-17. Retrieved 2022-11-28.
  4. ^ "Crown Copyright - FAQ". Government of Canada. www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Copyright and the Public Domain". Public Domain Information Project. Archived from the original on 2014-08-01. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
  6. ^ Hirtle, Peter B. (3 January 2020). "Copyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States". Cornell University Library Copyright Information Center. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  7. ^ "The Notable Properties Entering the Public Domain This Decade | License Global". www.licenseglobal.com. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  8. ^ a b "Public Domain: Mickey and More in '24 - The Daily Cartoonist". www.dailycartoonist.com. 2023-12-19. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
  9. ^ "Eat Your Spinach with a Side of Public Domain". Harris County Robert W. Hainsworth Law Library. 2021-03-26. Archived from the original on 2021-03-26. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
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