The works featured on this page have all been protected by copyright since they were published in 1924, meaning you would need the creator's permission to copy them or share them online. But copyright does eventually end, and for all works published in 1924, they officially entered the public domain this year. That means anyone can use them however they want. Students can perform songs published in 1924 and publish a video of their performance on social media or use an image as part of marketing for an event. Teachers can use creative works in the public domain in their classes, and students can use them as part of their assignments, all without worry about getting permission first. To celebrate, the Libraries invited University faculty and students to perform or read from famous 1924 works, including Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin and Mamanita by Jelly Roll Morton.

Copyright is important as it allows creators to benefit from the works they make. However, nothing is created in a vacuum, and all creators are inspired in some way by previous works. The public domain is an important part of copyright by guaranteeing that eventually everyone can benefit from creative works. Just think about famous works that are adaptations of other works already in the public domain:

• West Side Story (based off of Romeo and Juliet)

• The vast majority of Disney movies (Cinderella, Mulan, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, etc.)

• Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (based off of Pride and Prejudice)

• 12 Years a Slave (based off the book of the same name)

These works would not have been possible without the public domain.