When Famous Characters Enter the Public Domain

What happens when copyright protection expires?

Copyright protection does not last forever. When eligible works reach the end of their copyright term, they enter the public domain, where they can generally be used, adapted and reimagined without permission from the copyright owner.

This visualization shows the expected public-domain timeline for a selection of recognizable characters and creative works.

The transition into the public domain can open new opportunities for creators, but individual characters may have multiple versions protected by different copyrights and may also be associated with trademark rights. Public-domain status therefore does not necessarily mean that every version or use of a character is unrestricted.

Source: Visual Capitalist / Voronoi