International Public Domain Day 2023: Date, History and Significance

Each year on January 1st, a new batch of copyright-free books, music, art, and film enter the public domain. That means that anyone in the world can use them for any purpose without asking for permission or paying a fee.

International Public Domain Day 2023: On International Public Domain Day, January 1, 2023, works that have been created over the past 70 years will enter the public domain. This means that anyone can make use of these works legally, without having to worry about copyrights or any legal repercussions. This is a monumental day for creativity and culture; it marks the beginning of an era where knowledge and ideas can be shared freely and openly. From films to books to music to photographs – there are so many works that will be available for use in ways they never have before. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what entering the public domain means and how it may affect our culture in the long run. We will also explore some of the most iconic works that are set to enter the public domain on International Public Domain Day, January 1, 2023.

What is Public Domain Day?

This day is celebrated by people who love free culture and creativity. Public Domain Day is a great time to start using works that are now in the public domain, or to share them with others.

There are many ways to get involved in Public Domain Day. Here are some ideas:

Share public domain works with your friends and family.
Upload public domain works to Wikimedia Commons.
Write about or create something inspired by a work in the public domain.
Make a video about why you love the public domain.

The History of Public Domain Day

Every year on January 1st, copyright terms for a new batch of works enters the public domain. This has been happening since the Copyright Act of 1790 established copyright for a term of 14 years, with the possibility of renewal for another 14. The Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998 added 20 years to that, meaning that works published in 1923 will enter the public domain on January 1, 2019.

Public Domain Day is celebrated by copyright activists, librarians, and others who believe in a robust public domain and increased access to knowledge. It’s an opportunity to reflect on the importance of the public domain and to celebrate the works that are entering it.

Copyright law is intended to encourage creativity by providing financial incentives for creators. But once those creators sell or transfer their copyrights, they can no longer control how their work is used. That’s why many artists and writers support putting their work in the public domain: so that it can be used and enjoyed by everyone.

There are some exceptions to what enters the public domain on January 1st. In 1998, Congress passed the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act, which added 20 years to existing copyright terms. So works published in 1923 won’t enter the public domain until 2019. Additionally, any work published between 1923 and 1977 may be protected for 95 years from its date of publication.

The chart below shows when different categories of copyrighted works will enter the public domain in

What Works Enter the Public Domain on January 1, 2023?

When the Copyright Term Extension Act became effective in 1998, the public domain in the United States was frozen for 20 years. You can imagine the frustration of scholars, historians, and others who depend on being able to use works that have entered the public domain. After a long wait, we are finally seeing some relief. On January 1, 2019, works from 1923 will enter the public domain in the United States. And on January 1, 2020, works from 1924 will enter the public domain. This process will continue until January 1, 2023, when works from 1926 will enter the public domain.

We can expect to see a lot of activity around these newly-available works. Libraries and archives will digitize them and make them available online. Publishers will put out new editions of books that have been out of print for decades. And scholars will write articles and books about them.

This is all very exciting news for those of us who care about the public domain. But it’s important to remember that not everything will be entering the public domain on January 1, 2023. For example, any work that was published after December 31, 1922 with a copyright notice that indicated a renewal term of 28 years would not enter the public domain until 2030 at the earliest (and possibly even later). So don’t expect to see everything suddenly become available on January 1st; it’s going to take a few years for everything to fall into place.

How to Celebrate Public Domain Day

Happy Public Domain Day! Today is the day when we celebrate the public domain, and all the works that are now free for everyone to use and enjoy.

There are many ways to celebrate Public Domain Day. Here are some ideas:

Use public domain works in your own creations.
Share public domain works with others.
Learn about public domain works and their creators.
Help preserve public domain works for future generations.
Support organizations that promote the public domain.

Conclusion

International Public Domain Day on January 1, 2023 is an important reminder of the importance of sharing knowledge and creativity with everyone. This day serves as a celebration of all the works that are now available to us without restriction from copyright law. We hope that International Public Domain Day inspires more people to explore these public domain works and share them freely for others to enjoy. With this holiday, we can ensure that our collective cultural heritage remains accessible for generations to come.