2023 in public domain

With the exception of Belarus (Life + 50 years) and Spain (which has a copyright term of Life + 80 years for creators that died before 1987), a work enters the public domain in Europe 70 years after the creator's death, if it was published during the creator's lifetime. For previously unpublished material, those who publish it first will have the publication rights for 25 years. The list is sorted alphabetically and includes a notable work of the creator that entered the public domain on 1 January 2023.

Names	Country	Birth	Death	Occupation	Notable work
Antonieta de Barros	Brazil	11 July 1901	28 March 1952	Journalist and teacher
Marjorie Bowen	United Kingdom	1 November 1885	23 December 1952	Author of historical romances, supernatural stories, popular history and biographies
Margaret Wise Brown	United States	23 May 1910	13 November 1952	Author of children's literature	Goodnight Moon, The Runaway Bunny and The Color Kittens
Jeffery Farnol	United Kingdom	10 February 1878	9 August 1952	Author of romance novels	The Broad Highway and The Amateur Gentleman
Knut Hamsun	Norway	4 August 1859	19 February 1952	Novelist and poet	Growth of the Soil, Hunger and Mysteries
H. J. Massingham	United Kingdom	25 March 1888	22 August 1952	Poet and writer on ruralism
Josephine Tey	United Kingdom	25 July 1896	13 February 1952	Author	A Shilling for Candles, The Franchise Affair and The Daughter of Time

Spain has a copyright term of life + 80 years for creators that died before 1987. The list is sorted alphabetically and includes a notable work of the creator that entered the public domain on 1 January 2023.

In most countries of Africa and Asia, as well as Belarus, Bolivia, Canada, New Zealand, Egypt and Uruguay; a work enters the public domain 50 years after the creator's death.

Names	Country	Birth	Death	Occupation	Notable work
M. C. Escher	Netherlands	17 June 1898	27 March 1972	Artist
Ismail Yassin	Egypt	15 September 1912	24 May 1972	Musician	monologues

In 2004 copyright in Australia changed from a "plus 50" law to a "plus 70" law, in line with America and the European Union. But the change was not made retroactive (unlike the 1995 change in the European Union which bought some e.g. British authors back into copyright, especially those who died from 1925 to 1944). Hence the work of an author who died before 1955 is normally in the public domain in Australia; but the copyright of authors was extended to 70 years after death for those who died in 1955 or later, and no more Australian authors will come out of copyright until 1 January 2026 (those who died in 1955).[1]

Under the Copyright Term Extension Act, books published in 1927, films released in 1927, and other works published in 1927, will enter the public domain in 2023.[2] Sound recordings that were published in 1923 will enter the public domain.[3]

Unpublished works whose authors died in 1952 will enter the public domain.

Some of the published works that will enter the public domain include the first talkie, The Jazz Singer, and the first group of Laurel and Hardy team's films.

• 1952 in literature and 1972 in literature for deaths of writers
• Public Domain Day
• Creative Commons

• Media related to Undelete in 2023 at Wikimedia Commons
• "Authors by Year of Death - 1952". AuthorAndBookInfo.com.
• Popular Books of 1927 at Goodreads