DC Comics has always been associated with its iconic characters such as Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Joker, and Lois Lane. They've always been pop culture staples due to the numerous adaptations and iterations that have been released for decades.
However, the company is set to face its biggest kryptonite yet as we're getting closer to 95 years since the creation of the aforementioned characters which would mean that they will be entering the public domain.
As we've witnessed during the New Year when the classic Mickey Mouse short Steamboat Willie entered the public domain, numerous artists immediately took the opportunity as we heard announcements of horror projects starring the Disney character.
Soon enough, we can expect a similar scenario when the beloved DC characters face the inevitability in the near future.
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Superman, Batman, and Other DC Characters Will Enter the Public Domain in 2030s
A recent report from Variety explained the copyright dilemma that DC is facing soon as its iconic characters are set to enter the public domain within the 2030s (which is around a decade from now).
Superman and his love interest Lois Lane will first enter in 2034. They will be followed by Batman in 2035, his villain Joker in 2036, and Wonder Woman in 2037.
However, the artists who might be interested in doing unauthorized works of the characters once they enter the public domain still have limitations since they will only be allowed to do their original versions.
"You get Batman, but you don’t get Robin. You get Superman, but you don’t get kryptonite," comic book author Chris Sims explained. The original Superman could also only leap, but not fly.
"Those characteristics are going to fall into the public domain one by one," entertainment lawyer Amanda Schreyer noted.
Another limitation that the artists will face is that DC will still have the trademark for the terms "Man of Steel" and "Caped Crusader" and Superman's "S" and Batman's logos.
DC is already preparing for the inevitability since they're introducing updated versions of designs and characteristics of the characters given that only the older iterations will lose the copyright.
DC Studios co-chairman James Gunn also noted in the DCU slate announcement last year that Superman: Legacy will introduce characters from The Authority partly because the hero's copyright will expire soon.
It is interesting to see how this inevitable scenario will unfold in the next decade once it happens and how DC will handle the numerous unauthorized works that are going to surface, which could affect their brand.
As we've seen with Steamboat Willie and Winnie the Pooh, we can safely say that a lot of artists will take advantage of the opportunity, especially given the stature and popularity of the characters.
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