<P> On January 1 , 2009 , 70 years since the death of his creator , Segar 's character of Popeye ( though not the various films , TV shows , theme music and other media based on him ) became public domain in most countries , but remains under copyright in the United States . Because Segar was an employee of King Features Syndicate when he created the Popeye character for the company 's Thimble Theatre strip , Popeye is treated as a work for hire under U.S. copyright law . Works for hire are protected for 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation , whichever is shorter . Since Popeye made his first appearance in January 1929 , and all U.S. copyrights expire on December 31 of the year that the term ends , Popeye will enter the public domain in the U.S. on January 1 , 2025 , assuming no amendments to U.S. copyright law before that date . </P>
<P> On January 1 , 2009 , 70 years since the death of his creator , Segar 's character of Popeye ( though not the various films , TV shows , theme music and other media based on him ) became public domain in most countries , but remains under copyright in the United States . Because Segar was an employee of King Features Syndicate when he created the Popeye character for the company 's Thimble Theatre strip , Popeye is treated as a work for hire under U.S. copyright law . Works for hire are protected for 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation , whichever is shorter . Since Popeye made his first appearance in January 1929 , and all U.S. copyrights expire on December 31 of the year that the term ends , Popeye will enter the public domain in the U.S. on January 1 , 2025 , assuming no amendments to U.S. copyright law before that date . </P>
who owns the rights to popeye the sailor
who owns the rights to popeye the sailor
King Features Syndicate work for hire
King Features Syndicate work for hire