Yes, the beloved children's book Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak is still under copyright.
Published in 1963, Where the Wild Things Are remains protected under current U.S. copyright law. While works from that year would have entered the public domain in 2020 under the copyright statutes in effect until 1978, subsequent legislative changes extended the duration of copyright protection. These extensions have ensured that many classic works, including Sendak's iconic book, continue to be protected for a significantly longer period.
Understanding Copyright Duration for Older Works
The copyright term for works published in the United States before 1978, which includes Where the Wild Things Are, has been extended multiple times since its original publication. Initially, such works had an initial copyright term that could be renewed. However, amendments to copyright law, notably the Copyright Act of 1976 and the Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998, significantly lengthened these terms.
The general rule for works published in the U.S. between 1923 and 1977 that properly renewed their copyright is that they are protected for 95 years from the date of publication. For a deeper understanding of copyright law, you can consult resources from the Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute.
Here's a simplified overview of the copyright status for Where the Wild Things Are:
| Publication Year | Original Copyright Law (Pre-1978) | Current U.S. Copyright Law (Post-1998 CTEA) | Projected Public Domain Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 28 years + 28 years (56 total) | 95 years from publication date | January 1, 2059 |
Implications of Copyright Protection
For Where the Wild Things Are to remain under copyright means that its creative works—including the text, illustrations, and characters—are legally owned by the copyright holder (typically the author's estate or publisher). Anyone wishing to reproduce, adapt, distribute, perform, or publicly display the work, or create derivative works from it (such as films, merchandise, or new stories based on the characters), must obtain explicit permission and often pay licensing fees.
This contrasts sharply with works in the public domain, which are free for anyone to use without permission or payment, encouraging broader creative reuse and accessibility. The continued protection of works like Where the Wild Things Are underscores the extended reach of modern copyright legislation.
