Public Domain

This Research Guide provides information on the Public Domain and suggestions for resources to find public domain items.

Public Domain Day 2025

Under U.S. law, works published in 1929 will enter the public domain on January 1, 2024. Additionally, thanks to the Copyright Term Extension Act, all sound recordings from 1924 will also enter the public domain in 2025.

New titles used to enter the public domain annually, as their copyrights expired, but the Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998 froze the public domain for the next 20 years. As of January 1st 2019, we can enjoy and celebrate the addition of new public domain works every year, from books to movies to musical scores.

Notable Public Domain 2025 Works at UTSA Libraries

Note that this is just a small fraction of the many works that entered the public domain in 2025.

Books and Plays

Films

Public Domain Day 2025 List