With the Steamboat Willie versions of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse now becoming public domain, fans wish to find out if other popular names such as Superman and Batman will be joining the public domain soon. So, here’s all you need to know about their possibilities of being in the public domain.
When does Superman enter the public domain?
As per US law, 2034 is the year when Superman would be joining the public domain.
In 2034, fans of Man of Steel and a few other DC characters will be able to use Superman in their content up to a certain extent without being afraid of copyright, trademark, or patent laws as that’s when Superman will be joining the public domain (PD).
According to US law, a property introduced before 1978 makes its way into the public domain if 95 years have passed after its first publication. So, because Superman made his debut on April 18, 1938, in Action Comics #1, he will be joining the public domain in 2034.
When does Batman enter the public domain?
Batman, who first appeared in Detective Comics #27 on March 30, 1939, will enter the public domain in 2035.
James Gunn and Peter Safran of DC Studios plan to launch a massive shared universe. But they could have a few problems to sort out if the DCU continues until the mid-2030s. After all, not just Batman or Superman, but Wonder Woman will also be joining the public domain in 2037, having made her debut in All-Star Comics #8 in December 1941.
Earlier in 2023, James Gunn answered the question of what will happen when characters like Batman and Superman enter the public domain. During DC Studios’ presentation, James Gunn said:
“Well, I mean, number one, it’s a very complicated issue. It’s not cut and dry. There’s a lot of technical stuff around what pieces actually enter the public domain, which you may or may not know about. So there’s that. But there’s also that’s one of the reasons why we have Superman and that’s why we’re bringing the Authority into mainstream.”
It’ll be interesting to see how DC Studios handles the public domain problem when it arises. But it seems that James Gunn and co plan to counter those issues by making other characters from The Authority and other DC teams popular.
For more updates, check out if The Matrix 5 will arrive in 2024. Also, learn if Vin Diesel will be back for Riddick 4.
