For authors who are curious about intellectual property and the public domain, this blog is for you!
Duke Law School’s Center for the Study of the Public Domain has published a list of works that are available for use without copyright infringement — no permission or payment required. As of January 1, 2022, these works are free for all to “copy, share, and build upon.”
Books in the Public Domain as of 2022
The works below were written in 1926 and are now free to use:
A. A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh, decorations by E. H. Shepard 6
Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises
Dorothy Parker, Enough Rope (her first collection of poems)
Langston Hughes, The Weary Blues
T. E. Lawrence, The Seven Pillars of Wisdom (later adapted into the film Lawrence of Arabia)
Felix Salten, Bambi, A Life in the Woods
Kahlil Gibran, Sand and Foam
Agatha Christie, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Edna Ferber, Show Boat
William Faulkner, Soldiers’ Pay (his first novel)
Willa Cather, My Mortal Enemy
D. H. Lawrence, The Plumed Serpent
H. L. Mencken, Notes on Democracy
Also check out the sound recordings, movies, and musical compositions that were just released.
What About Last Year’s Public Domain Releases (2021)?
The Duke’s Center for the Study of the Public Domain shared a YouTube video for last year’s releases.
What About 2020 and Prior?
Duke University keeps an archive of works in the public domain going back for years. See the releases through 2010 below.
Are You Working on a Masterpiece and Have Intellectual Property Questions?
Although I recommend the use of literary attorneys, it’s good to have some basic knowledge of copyright and intellectual property requirements. I help authors with citations, permissions, and general informations when it comes to excerpts, quotes, photo sourcing, and the use of other copyrighted material.
Contact me and let’s discuss your project!