AP Spotlight Copyright laws Betty Boop and 'Blondie' enter the public domain in 2026, accompanied by a trio of detectives ANDREW DALTON Associated Press Jan 11, 2026 Jan 11, 2026 Updated Jan 20, 2026 0 1 of 3 Mae Questel, who provided the loopy, child-like voice of cartoon characters Betty Boop and Olive Oyl, in 1978. Associated Press Dean Young, writer of the "Blondie" comic strip, draws July 12, 2005, in his studio in Clearwater, Fla. ROBERT AZMITIA, Associated Press Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save ANDREW DALTON Associated Press Betty Boop and "Blondie" are joining Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh in the public domain.kAm%96 7:CDE 2AA62C2?46D @7 E96 4=2DD:4 42CE@@? 2?5 4@>:4 492C24E6CD 2C6 2>@?8 E96 A:646D @7 :?E6==64EF2= AC@A6CEJ H9@D6 hd\J62C &]$] 4@AJC:89E >2I:>F> 92D 366? C624965[ AFEE:?8 E96> :? E96 AF3=:4 5@>2:? 2D @7 y2?] `] %92E >62?D 4C62E@CD 42? FD6 2?5 C6AFCA@D6 E96> H:E9@FE A6C>:DD:@? @C A2J>6?E]k^AmkAmy6??:76C y6?<:?D[ =2H AC@76DD@C 2?5 5:C64E@C @7 sF<6VD r6?E6C 7@C E96 $EF5J @7 E96 !F3=:4 s@>2:?[ D2:5 E92E[ 4@==64E:G6=J[ E9:D J62CVD H@C< D9@HD QE96 7C28:=:EJ E92E H2D 36EH66? E96 EH@ H2CD 2?5 E96 56AE9D @7 E96 vC62E s6AC6DD:@?]Qk^Am kAmw6C6VD 2 4=@D6C =@@< 2E H92EVD ?6H E@ E96 AF3=:4 5@>2:?[ 32D65 @? E96 C6D62C49 @7 y6?<:?D 2?5 96C 46?E6C]k^Am People are also reading… Friday Five: Caleb Wygal's life story is as good as his books Down payment aid package launches in Cabarrus County, expanding homeownership access Big Elm Ministries, Macy's and Second Harvest team up to help families Friday Five New flights, new homes, pancakes and art Art Walk on Union returns in Downtown Concord Saturday Friday Five: Raising Cane's and Sheetz coming to Concord Trump signs executive action to pay TSA after Congress fails to agree on DHS funding Advocate Health plans drone network to deliver prescriptions, lab samples 2026 Run Kannapolis 5K Series begins Saturday Cabarrus CrimeStoppers - Call or text a tip anonymously Rowan-Cabarrus names its newest Student Ambassadors Kanthal celebrates opening of high-tech Concord operation Kannapolis now takes reservations for park shelters It's Wes Miller time for Charlotte 49ers basketball Superhero to a hungry child - volunteers pack 50,000 meals at Charlotte Motor Speedway k9amr2CE@@?D 2?5 4@>:4D k^9amkAm(96? q6EEJ q@@A 7:CDE 2AA62CD :? E96 `hb_ D9@CE Qs:KKJ s:D96D[Q @?6 @7 7@FC @7 96C 42CE@@?D 6?E6C:?8 E96 AF3=:4 5@>2:?[ D96VD 2=C625J E@E2==J C64@8?:K23=6 2D E96 y2KK p86 7=2AA6C =2E6C >6>@C:2=:K65 :? 4@F?E=6DD E2EE@@D[ %\D9:CED 2?5 3F>A6C DE:4<6CD] $96 92D 96C 323J 7246[ D9@CE 92:C H:E9 8C@@>65 4FC=D[ 7=2D9J 6J6=2D96D 2?5 >:?:2EFC6 >@FE9] qFE D96VD 2=D@ 8@E 52?8=:?8 A@@5=6 62CD 2?5 2 E:?J 3=24< ?@D6] %9@D6 H@F=5 D@@? >@CA9 :?E@ 52?8=:?8 62CC:?8D 2?5 2 E:?J H9:E6 ?@D6]k^Am kAm$96 DE2CE65 2D 6DD6?E:2==J E96 |:??:6 |@FD6 E@ 2 A@AF=2C 2?E9C@A@>@CA9:4 5@8 ?2>65 q:>3@[ H9@> D96 H@F=5 6G6?EF2==J @FED9:?6 — 2?5 AFD9 2D:56] $96VD 8@E 2 DFAA@CE:?8 C@=6 :? Qs:KKJ s:D96D[Q A6C7@C>:?8 2 D=:?<J D@?8\2?5\52?46 :? 2 E:?J 3=24< 5C6DD] $96VD ?@E ?2>65[ 3FE D:?8D Q3@@A 3@@A[ 2 5@@A]Qk^Am kAm%96 492C24E6C H2D 56D:8?65 2?5 @H?65 3J u=6:D496C $EF5:@D[ 2?5 E96 D9@CED H6C6 C6=62D65 3J !2C2>@F?E !:4EFC6D] pCE:DED 2C6 ?@H 7C66 E@ FD6 E9:D 62C=:6DE q@@A :? 7:=>D 2?5 D:>:=2C H@C<] qFE >2<:?8 >6C49 H@?VE 36 7C66] x? 2? :>A@CE2?E 5:DE:?4E:@? @7E6? C2:D65 3J s:D?6J @G6C |:4<6J |@FD6[ 2 492C24E6CVD EC256>2C< :D 5:DE:?4E 7C@> E96 4@AJC:89E @7 H@C<D E92E 762EFC6 E96>] %96 u=6:D496C !C@5F4E:@?D EC256>2C< @7 q6EEJ q@@A C6>2:?D :?E24E]k^Am kAmq@@AD 2?5 5@@AD H6C6 2AA2C6?E=J :? E96 2:C :? `hb_] q=@?5:6 q@@A25@@A H2D[ =:<6 q6EEJ[ 2 J@F?8 7=2AA6C[ 2?5 E96 46?EC2= 492C24E6C @7 r9:4 *@F?8VD ?6HDA2A6C 4@>:4 DEC:A E92E 563FE65 :? `hb_] xE :?DA:C65 2 7:=> D6C:6D 2?5 C25:@ D9@H[ 2?5 :D DE:== CF??:?8 E@52J :? A2A6CD E92E DE:== 92G6 4@>:4D]k^Am kAm%96 DEC:A 7@==@H65 96C 42C67C66 3C66K6 E9C@F89 =:76 H:E9 96C 3@J7C:6?5[ s28H@@5 qF>DE625] %96 EH@ H@F=5 >2CCJ W2?5 D96 H@F=5 492?86 96C ?2>6X :? `hbb[ 2?5 E96 DEC:A H@F=5 364@>6 E96 D2?5H:49\962GJ 5@>6DE:4 4@>65J 72>:=:2C E@ =2E6C C6256CD]k^Am kAm}:?6 ?6H |:4<6J |@FD6 42CE@@?D 2=D@ 2C6 364@>:?8 AF3=:4 5@>2:?[ EH@ J62CD 27E6C Q$E62>3@2E (:==:6Q >256 E96 7:CDE G6CD:@? @7 9:> AF3=:4 AC@A6CEJ] w6VD ;@:?65 E9:D J62C 3J 9:D 5@8 !=FE@[ H9@[ :? `hb_[ H2D <?@H? 2D #@G6C] Ww6 H@F=5 86E 9:D =@?8\E6C> >@?:<6C E96 7@==@H:?8 J62C]Xk^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack k9amq@@<Dk^9am kAm%96 3@@<D 6?E6C:?8 E96 AF3=:4 5@>2:? @A6? E96 5@@C E@ E9C66 :4@?:4 56E64E:G6D 7C@> E96 a_E9 46?EFCJik^Am kF=mk=:m%96 E66? D=6FE9 }2?4J sC6H[ H9@D6 7:CDE 7@FC 3@@<D 42>6 :? `hb_[ DE2CE:?8 H:E9 Q%96 $64C6E @7 E96 ~=5 r=@4<]Q %96J H6C6 HC:EE6? 3J |:=5C65 q6?D@? F?56C E96 A6? ?2>6 r2C@=J? z66?6]k^=:mk=:m%96 >:55=6\2865W\:D9X D=6FE9 $2> $A256[ H9@ 563FE65 G:2 E96 7F==\3@@< G6CD:@? @7 s2D9:6== w2>>6EEVD Q%96 |2=E6D6 u2=4@?]Q WxE 925 366? D6C:2=:K65 :? 2 >282K:?6 E96 AC6G:@FD J62C]Xk^=:mk=:m%96 6=56C=J D=6FE9 |:DD |2CA=6[ H9@ D@=G6D 96C 7:CDE >JDE6CJ :? p82E92 r9C:DE:6VD Q|FC56C 2E E96 ':42C286]Qk^=:mk^F=mkAmp J62C 27E6C 9:D Q%96 $@F?5 2?5 E96 uFCJQ 3642>6 AF3=:4[ (:==:2> u2F=<?6CVD QpD x {2J sJ:?8Q 364@>6D AF3=:4 5@>2:?] xE H@F=5 96=A =625 E@ 9:D }@36= !C:K6 :? =:E6C2EFC6]k^Am kAmp?5 <:55:6 =:E =686?5D s:4< 2?5 y2?6[ H9@ E2F89E 86?6C2E:@?D E@ C625 2?5 3642>6 6DD6?E:2= A2C@5J 7@556C 7@C 564256D[ 364@>6 AF3=:4 G:2 E96 Qt=D@? q2D:4 #6256CDQ E6IE3@@<D]k^Amk9amu:=>Dk^9amkAmp J62C 27E6C E96:C 7:=> 563FE[ Q%96 r@4@2?FED[Q 6?E6C65 E96 AF3=:4 5@>2:?[ E96 |2CI qC@E96CDV 36=@G65 Qp?:>2= rC24<6CDQ ;@:?D :E] %96 7:=> 7:?5D vC@F49@[ w2CA@[ r9:4@ 2?5 +6AA@ :?G25:?8 2 {@?8 xD=2?5 D@4:6EJ A2CEJ 46=63C2E:?8 2? 6IA=@C6C @7 p7C:42]k^Am kAm~E96C >@G:6D 6?E6C:?8 E96 AF3=:4 5@>2:? :?4=F56ik^Am kF=mk=:mQ%96 q=F6 p?86=[Q E96 v6C>2? 7:=> 7C@> y@D67 G@? $E6C?36C8 E92E 6>3=2K@?65 |2C=6?6 s:6EC:49VD E@A\92EE65 :>286 :?E@ 7:=> =@C6]k^=:mk=:mQz:?8 @7 y2KK[Q 762EFC:?8 E96 7:CDE D4C66? 2AA62C2?46 @7 q:?8 rC@D3J]k^=:mk=:mp A2:C @7 ~D42C 36DE A:4EFC6 H:??6CD[ Qp== "F:6E @? E96 (6DE6C? uC@?E[Q H9:49 H@? :? `hb_[ 2?5 Qr:>2CC@?[Q H9:49 H@? :? `hb`] %96 2H2C5 H2D <?@H? 2D Q~FEDE2?5:?8 !C@5F4E:@?Q E96?[ 2?5 E96 p4256>J pH2C5D 6=:8:3:=:EJ A6C:@5 5:5?VE DJ?4 H:E9 E96 42=6?52C J62C]k^=:mk^F=m k9am|FD:4k^9amkAmpD :? E96 A2DE D6G6C2= J62CD[ 2 H9:DE=6\H@CE9J DEC62> @7 EF?6D 7C@> E96 vC62E p>6C:42? $@?83@@< 2C6 ?@H AF3=:4ik^Am kF=mk=:mu@FC 496C:D965 4=2DD:4D HC:EE6? 3J v6@C86 v6CD9H:?[ H:E9 =JC:4D 3J 9:D 3C@E96C xC2i Qt>3C24623=6 *@F[Q QxVG6 v@E 2 rCFD9 @? *@F[Q QqFE }@E 7@C |6Q 2?5 Qx v@E #9JE9>]Qk^=:mk=:mQv6@C8:2 @? |J |:?5[Q HC:EE6? 3J w@28J r2C>:4926= 2?5 $EF2CE v@CC6==]k^=:mk=:mQsC62> 2 {:EE=6 sC62> @7 |6[Q HC:EE6? 3J vFD z29?[ u23:2? p?5C6 2?5 (:=3FC $49H2?5E]k^=:mk^F=mkAms:776C6?E =2HD C68F=2E6 E96 24EF2= C64@C5:?8D @7 D@?8D[ 2?5 E9@D6 ?6H=J :? E96 AF3=:4 5@>2:? 52E6 E@ `had] %96J :?4=F56 #@586CD 2?5 w2CEVD Q|2?92EE2?Q 3J E96 z?:4<6C3@4<6CD[ Q}@3@5J z?@HD E96 %C@F3=6 xVG6 $66?Q 3J |2C:2? p?56CD@? 2?5 Q%96 $E] {@F:D q=F6DQ 3J q6DD:6 $>:E9[ 762EFC:?8 {@F:D pC>DEC@?8]k^Am 0 Comments Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story What to Stream: A$AP Rocky, Madison Beer, Will Smith and 'Ponies' Idris Elba in "Hijack" and Matt Damon and Ben Affleck reuniting in “The Rip” are among the new television, films, music and games headed to a … RAW: ORIGINAL VERSION OF BETTY BOOP ENTERS PUBLIC DOMAIN 1930 version of Betty Boop enters public domain Photos: The biggest entertainment and fashion moments of 2025 In a year that zoomed by, AP’s photographers captured perfect images of stellar entertainment moments, whether they were on stages, runways or…
What to Stream: A$AP Rocky, Madison Beer, Will Smith and 'Ponies' Idris Elba in "Hijack" and Matt Damon and Ben Affleck reuniting in “The Rip” are among the new television, films, music and games headed to a …
RAW: ORIGINAL VERSION OF BETTY BOOP ENTERS PUBLIC DOMAIN 1930 version of Betty Boop enters public domain
Photos: The biggest entertainment and fashion moments of 2025 In a year that zoomed by, AP’s photographers captured perfect images of stellar entertainment moments, whether they were on stages, runways or…