Public domain 2026: Betty Boop, Pluto, and Nancy Drew set free

Betty Boop made her debut as an anthropomorphic dog in Dizzy Dishes. | Image: Fleischer Studios

Some years ago, I was writing a science fiction short story in which I wanted to incorporate verses from a 1928 song, "Button Up Your Overcoat." However, when I sold the story, my editor told me that since the song was still copyrighted, it was safer not to include the verses.

If I had written the story today, I could have used them - because the song passed into public domain two years ago.