The early version of the cartoon sailor is now in public domain, and he's already the star of a slasher movie.

However, since 2019, some of those existing copyrights have been expiring, meaning that those characters entered the public domain, as their owners lost exclusive rights to their likeness.

Popeye, Tintin and other classic comic characters will enter the public domain in 2025. New stories with twists on the characters are already in development. NPR reports that Jan. 1 will be the ...

And the Disney icon's public domain presence expands ... and is the kind of character element that could spawn legal disputes. And the animated shorts featuring his distinctive mumbly voice ...