The Copyright Term Extension Act provides that works published in 1927 enter the public domain on January 1, 2023.[2] Works that are published in 1927 and then translated in a later year may still be copyrighted.[3] Sound recordings, however, are treated differently. Under the Music Modernization Act, all sound recordings published between the late 1800s (the earliest days of sound recording technology) and 1922 had entered the public domain in 2022,[4][5] and sound recordings that were first published after 1922 would not enter the public domain until 100 years after their respective dates of publication.[6] Therefore, no sound recordings entered the public domain in 2023.
Films
Notable films that entered the public domain in 2023 included the following:
The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes contained the last two short stories in the Canon of Sherlock Holmes, and was subject to a copyright dispute by Doyle's estate before its entry into the public domain.[8]
In September 2023, comic book writer Bill Willingham released the Fables intellectual property into the public domain.[9] Publisher DC Comics continues to claim ownership of the franchise and had an intent to enforce its copyright, but it has not attempted legal action against Willingham or any unauthorized uses of Fables since.[10][11]
Music
Notable musical compositions entering the public domain in 2023 included the following:
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