Tamera H. Bennett-Attorney

Happy New Year and Happy Public Domain Day.

On January 1, 2026, thousands of copyrighted works from 1930 entered the US public domain, along with sound recordings from 1925.

Notable works now in the public domain include classic Gershwin songs "I Got Rhythm," "I’ve Got a Crush on You," "But Not for Me," and "Embraceable You"; the Academy Award–winning film "All Quiet on the Western Front" (1930); and works by authors including Agatha Christie, T.S. Eliot, Sigmund Freud, and William Faulkner.

Important legal reminder: derivative works created on or after January 1, 1930 (or January 1, 1925 for sound recordings) may still be protected by copyright, and trademark law may continue to protect certain characters or brand elements even when the underlying work is in the public domain and no longer protected by copyright.

Public Domain Day is a reminder that expanded access to creative works comes with legal nuances that still matter for creators and businesses.

Learn more at: https://web.law.duke.edu/cspd/publicdomainday/

And feel free to contact the Harper & Bates LLP team. www.harperbates.com

The devastating floods and loss of life in Central Texas this weekend have Texas attorneys eager to assist their fellow Texans. The State Bar of Texas is coordinating with legal aid and pro bono groups to assess the legal needs on the ground and determine areas where attorneys may be able to volunteer.

As with any natural disaster, right now the survivors are focused on finding their loved ones and other immediate needs like food, shelter, and clothing. Their legal needs will become more apparent in the days and weeks ahead, and the State Bar will communicate those needs as more information is available.

In the meantime, through at least July 31, State Bar President Santos Vargas is dedicating all donations to the “Stand With Santos” access to justice campaign specifically for legal aid disaster relief.

Through this campaign, Santos is challenging the Texas legal community to donate money or pledge time to help bridge the justice gap for low-income Texans, including for disaster relief. You can give now at standwithsantos.org to help ensure money is not a barrier to disaster survivors receiving the legal help they desperately need.

Below are additional links to help with disaster legal relief ⬇️

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA), which serves areas affected by the flooding, accepts volunteer attorneys on its website at trla.org/volunteer.

The Texas Bar Foundation has established the Emergency Disaster Relief Fund at txbf.org/emergency-disaster-relief.

The State Bar of Texas offers Pro Bono Texas as a one-stop hub for pro bono opportunities at probonotexas.org/.

The State Bar also provides links to disaster relief resources for the public at texasbar.com/disasters.

Tomorrow, Wed. February 26, 2025. This tax seminar is designed with artists in mind and caters specifically to their tax concerns. Get ready to dive in on Wednesday, February 26! Link to register in comments.

Cohosted with Art House Dallas, Austin Federation of Musicians, Fresh Arts, and Houston Center for Contemporary Craft!

2️⃣ Two weeks until the Art of Taxes! This tax seminar is designed with artists in mind and caters specifically to their tax concerns. Get ready to dive in on Wednesday, February 26!

Register today (link in comments)!

Cohosted with Art House Dallas, Austin Federation of Musicians, Fresh Arts, and Houston Center for Contemporary Craft!