Core Insights - A new batch of works will enter the public domain in the United States on January 1, 2026, allowing free copying, sharing, and re-creation of these works [2][3] Group 1: Literature - Notable literary works entering the public domain include William Faulkner's "As I Lay Dying," which is considered a classic of stream-of-consciousness literature [2] - Other significant literary works include W. Somerset Maugham's "The Razor's Edge," Dashiell Hammett's "The Maltese Falcon," Agatha Christie's "The Mysterious Affair at Styles," and Sigmund Freud's "Civilization and Its Discontents" [3] Group 2: Animation - Iconic animated characters entering the public domain include Betty Boop, who first appeared in 1930, and Pluto, who also debuted in 1930 [3] - It is important to note that only the 1930 versions of Betty Boop and Pluto are entering the public domain, while later versions remain under copyright protection [3] Group 3: Film - Notable films entering the public domain include "All Quiet on the Western Front," directed by Lewis Milestone, which won the Best Picture Oscar at the 4th Academy Awards [4] - Another significant film is "The Big Parade," directed by Wesley Ruggles, which also received critical acclaim [4] Group 4: Art - Piet Mondrian's abstract painting "Composition No. II," created in 1930, is entering the public domain and previously set a record at auction, selling for $51 million in 2022 [5] - Other artworks entering the public domain include Paul Klee's "Animal Friendship" and José Clemente Orozco's mural "Prometheus" [5]