Prep a Public Domain Launch for January 1, 2026
From an article published Jan 2 this year…
New books, films and music enter the U.S. public domain at the beginning of each year. This year, works debuted in 1929 have joined previously added characters such as “Steamboat Willie” versions of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, which sparked a string of horror-tinged media projects last year, and Winnie-the-Pooh, who was transformed into a bloodthirsty killer in the 2023 slasher film “Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey.”
In other words, there is money to be made from IP moving into the public domain 
Notable works for 2026 include…
Nancy Drew #1Disney’s Pluto & Clarabelle CowAgatha Christie’s Miss MarpleWorks of Albert EinsteinHow to Win Friends and Influence People
Ideas for monetization…
Why it works: massive nostalgia, zero licensing fees, and first-mover advantage on search and marketplaces 
Just be careful where you sell, as copyright rules differ by country (eg. Tintin isn’t public domain in the EU yet).
