Is Scooby-Doo open domain?
Asked by: Abbigail Boyle | Last update: February 17, 2026Score: 4.9/5 (50 votes)
No, Scooby-Doo is not in the public domain; the characters and franchise are owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, and while early cartoons might enter copyright protection later (around 2059), the name, likeness, and concepts are heavily protected by trademarks, making unauthorized commercial use extremely risky.
Is Scooby-Doo in the public domain?
Scooby-Doo was first broadcast in 1969. Works that came out from 1963 to 1977 get a 28-year copyright plus an automatic 67-year renewal, so it becomes public domain in 2064.
Who owns the rights to Scooby-Doo?
Scooby-Doo (often written as Scooby-Doo!) is an American media franchise owned by Warner Bros. Entertainment and created in 1969 by writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears through their animated series, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, for Hanna-Barbera, which was later absorbed into Warner Bros. Animation in 2001.
What cartoons are now public domain?
Public domain cartoons are classic animated shorts where copyright has expired, allowing free use, and include many early Popeye, Betty Boop, Looney Tunes (especially older black-and-white shorts like 1930s Porky Pig), Superman (like Mechanical Monsters), and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoons, available for personal use, remixing, or even commercial projects. Key sources for finding these include the Internet Archive, Public Domain Movies, and YouTube, though you must verify specific titles, as colorized versions or later releases often remain copyrighted.
What cartoons are becoming public domain in 2025?
In 2025, several characters will enter the public domain, including Horace Horsecollar, Tintin (Les Aventures de Tintin), and the original Popeye the Sailor Man. His first appearance in “Gobs of Work” from the Thimble Theatre comic strip came in January 1929.
What Happens When Scooby Doo Goes into Public Domain? | BAM #48
Which Disney cartoon no longer falls under copyright laws?
This year, the “Steamboat Willie” version of Mickey Mouse is now in the public domain. Originally released in 1928, this version of Mickey also appeared in the silent version of“Plane Crazy,” which introduced Minnie as his girlfriend. Additionally, two years ago, a version of Winnie the Pooh entered the public domain.
Is Popeye public domain now?
On January 1, 2025, the Thimble Theatre strip that introduced Popeye entered the public domain. It was believed that certain elements of Popeye's character such as eating spinach as a source of strength would not yet be in the public domain.
Which cartoon is copyright free?
Many early cartoons, especially those from the 1920s and 1930s, are in the public domain, meaning their copyrights have expired, including certain Popeye shorts, early Betty Boop (like Minnie the Moocher), some Felix the Cat, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, and early Mickey Mouse (Steamboat Willie). These works are free for anyone to use, but it's crucial to check specific versions, as later iterations or modern remakes remain copyrighted.
Are the Flintstones public domain?
Nope. It was originally made in 1960, the stuff that is in public domain as of 2021 is 1926. So the first episodes will go into public domain in 2055 (if my math is correct).
Is Goofy still under copyright?
Key Takeaways. On January 1st, 2024, the Steamboat Willie versions of Mickey and Minnie Mouse entered public domain. The modern version of Mickey Mouse will follow suit in roughly 15 years. Several of Mickey's companions—including Pluto, Goofy, and Donald Duck—will be entering public domain in the next five years.
Who is LGBTQ in Scooby-Doo?
The most prominent LGBTQ+ character in the Scooby-Doo franchise is Velma Dinkley, who has been increasingly portrayed as a lesbian, a long-standing fan theory confirmed in recent animated movies like Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo! (2022), where she shows romantic interest in a woman, Coco Diablo. While early attempts to make her explicitly gay in the 2002 live-action film were blocked, writers of Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated confirmed they intended her to be queer, with her relationship with Shaggy often interpreted as a societal norm rather than true romantic fit.
Was Mystery Incorporated cancelled?
Yes, the animated series Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated was effectively cancelled by Cartoon Network after two seasons (52 episodes), despite the creators having plans and ideas for a third season, which never materialized due to network decisions, though there's been talk of potential continuation.
What is Shaggy's legal name?
Norville "Shaggy" Rogers is a fictional cartoon character and one of the main characters in the Scooby-Doo franchise. He is characterized as an amateur detective, and the long-time best friend of his dog, Scooby-Doo.
What's becoming public domain in 2026?
In 2026, works from 1930 entered the U.S. public domain, including classic books like William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying, Agatha Christie's Murder at the Vicarage, and the first four Nancy Drew novels, Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon, and literary hits like The Little Engine That Could; films such as the Marx Brothers' Animal Crackers and All Quiet on the Western Front; early characters like the first version of Betty Boop (from Dizzy Dishes) and Disney's "Rover" (later Pluto); iconic songs including "Georgia on My Mind," "Dream a Little Dream of Me," and Gershwin tunes like "I Got Rhythm"; and art by Mondrian and the original FIFA World Cup trophy.
Is Barbie copyright free?
Mattel, Inc. owns Barbie intellectual property, which includes trademarks, copyrights, and design patents covering everything from the name "Barbie," the handwritten and whimsical bright pink logo (Pantone 219C to be specific), Barbie's likeness, and even Barbie's clothes, accessories, style, design, packaging, and ...
Who has rights to Scooby-Doo?
Scooby-Doo is an American media franchise owned by Warner Bros. Discovery and created in 1969 by writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears through their animated series, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, for Hanna-Barbera (which was absorbed into Warner Bros.
Are Looney Tunes public domain?
Looney Tunes
Every short from 1930 has entered the public domain as of 2026.
Is tarzan a free domain?
Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. currently owns the trademark on the name. For info on dealing with trademarks, see our FAQ. On January 1st 2024, the original Tarzan comic strips published in 1928 entered the public domain.
What will enter the public domain in 2030?
In 2030, works by creators who died in 1959, like poet Edwin Muir and crime writer Sax Rohmer, will enter the public domain in countries following life-plus-70-years rules, while in the U.S., works from 1925 will enter, including early stories by authors like Fitzgerald and Hemingway, alongside earlier film/music; notable comic characters like Donald Duck and King Kong are slated for the early 2030s, with Superman and Batman following in the mid-2030s.
Is Popeye now public domain?
In 2025 copyright expires over more aspects of Mickey from his 1929 incarnations, along with the initial versions of Popeye and Tintin. As with Pooh and Mickey, it is the original versions of Popeye and Tintin that are public domain.
What cartoons are public domain in 2025?
The character Captain Easy, Popeye the Sailor Man, Disney's Horace Horsecollar, and Hergé's Tintin entered the public domain through their respective debut appearances in 2025.
Is Wile-e-Coyote public domain?
While the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote aren't technically public domain, you could theoretically make your own Roadrunner cartoon with little to no trouble from WB. Here's how: Roadrunners and coyotes are real animals.
Is Tom and Jerry open domain?
No, classic Tom and Jerry cartoons are not currently in the public domain in the U.S.; they are owned by Warner Bros. and their copyright generally lasts 95 years from publication for studio works like these. While the very first cartoon featuring the characters (originally Jasper & Jinx) enters the public domain around 2036-2037, the core, well-known Tom and Jerry shorts remain protected, with newer iterations protected even longer, meaning you can't freely use them yet.
Is Betty Boop open domain?
Yes, the original, dog-like version of Betty Boop from the 1930 cartoon "Dizzy Dishes" entered the public domain on January 1, 2026, but the fully developed, human-like Betty Boop character remains protected by copyright and trademark law, with later versions becoming public domain over time as their copyrights expire. This means you can freely use the early, dog-eared Betty, but using the modern, humanized version requires permission due to ongoing intellectual property rights held by Fleischer Studios.
Is strawberry shortcake in the public domain?
In May 1983, following a court case, copyrights to Strawberry Shortcake were granted to Barbi Sargent from American Greetings Corporation. Later on, Sargent returned the copyrights to American Greetings so that they could continue with the success of the Strawberry Shortcake franchise.