Public domain, where art lives after copyright

Expiration dates on intellectual property were written into our Constitution, "to promote the progress of science and useful arts." And every year, more and more books, music and films enter the public domain and help to inspire new creative ideas. Correspondent Lee Cowan looks at how some works that fall into public domain (like F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby," Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, and Walt Disney's original Mickey Mouse) are being revived in new forms.

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[MeridianWest]

Fun fact: until a judge declared it to be in public domain in 2016, "Happy Birthday To You" was a copyrighted song. Warner Music Group owned the copyright up to that point. I can remember seeing TV shows and commercials where they sung "For He's A Jolly Good Fellow" to celebrate a character's birthday because the producers apparently couldn't get clearance from WMG to use "Happy Birthday To You".

[AriannaCunningham]

This little documentary explains everything about Public Domain and Copyrighted works very well. And since Gershwin’s piece “Rhapsody in Blue” is now public domain, I’ve gotten a chance to make my own 2024 orchestra arrangement of it.

[jeanetteschock]

John Oliver went after Steamboat Willie as soon as it was available 😂😂😂

[TimCarey]

I love CBS Sunday Morning for this long format storytelling. I always learn something new.

[Samcraft]

Public Domain: It's beautiful!
**Suddenly, spirits of the Disney company, including Walt Disney himself, Roy O. Disney, Ub Iwerks, and past Disney Legends emerge and snarl the public domain along with the derivative versions of their created characters**
Mickey's Mouse Trap: **Screams like a girl**
Blood and Honey: **State of pure utter shock**
Minnie Mouse (Disney): Mickey?!
Oswald (Disney): What’s happening?!
Mickey Mouse (Disney): Don’t look, you two! Keep your eyes SHUT!
**Now see the public domain and derivative versions suffer the same fate as the villains in Raiders of the Lost Ark (Heads imploding, melting, and exploding). After that climax, Mickey, Oswald, and all other Disney created works go back under copyright at the company… forever!**

[MrJoshinJosh]

I’m definitely enjoying the first six months of Steamboat Willie being in The Public Domain😊👍

[NolaChick]

Nothing is ever going to take away from the original work, and I think it's an interesting opportunity to build upon an original story or concept.

[mililaniman]

It is amazing to think every form of entertainment I have enjoyed is now in public domain.

[Titleknown]

One fun thing they forgot is that, due to quirks in US copyright, a lot of stuff after 1928 is public domain due to failures to re-register it or put proper copyright notice on it when it was required.

Like, the biggest treasure trove of them I'd say is probably comics, as there's a lot of surprising ones there like Captain Marvel (The Shazam one) and Plastic Man, but another great one is Rankin-Bass' Rudolph special (Tho weirdly not Rudolph himself)

[CathyS_Bx]

I wish the actual authors/creators could have a say in when their works hit the public domain. Not longer, mind you! I write and would hope my works would be public domain right after I die.

[catloverfl]

For more than 50 years, I have waited to see the 1932 pre-code film Letty Lynton starring Joan Crawford and Robert Montgomery. When will this film ever be remastered and released for the public to see before I die?

[TheSJCieply]

Interestingly, Peter Pan, cited here, isn't in the public domain in the UK. The author gave its copyright to the Great Ormond Street Hospital, a children's hospital. Due to an act of parliament, it perpetually has the right to collect royalties.

[maestoso]

Corporations care more about copyright than artists.

[jjgreen]

All of these things should be public domain.

[ZehoOriginality]

As a writer, I'd shorten down to fifty years. I've always been opposed of the 'Estate'.

[charziard]

95 years is WAY too long for a work to be copyrighted. Realistically as they said, most works aren’t economically viable for 95 years and in my personal opinion, it shouldn’t extend past a humans lifetime (around 80 years) . These works are better when they can be worked and adapted on to make something new and to push the medium forward, that’s what I believe the founding fathers also intended by noting that in the constitution.

[melaniamonicacraciun]

There's so much to feel fine about😢😢😢 Disney was a peace activist as well, beyond any war affairs, having a world made for kids is...our biggest struggle above all 😢😢😢

[hummersd]

A hundred years is long enough; if your brand can last that long, heirs would've been able to milk it to make plenty of $$$. If that's your only source of income, do like the rest of us -- get a job.

[SEBSEB]

She doesn't think 95 years is too long? What a leach.

[casimir-pk]

I'm conflicted. On one hand, I understand the importance of copyright expiration, yet on the other, everything our era touches turns to garbage.