Works by Einstein, Mann, Carnegie, and Hajós entered the public domain in Hungary

Scientific writings by Albert Einstein, literary works by Thomas Mann and Dale Carnegie, architectural plans by Alfréd Hajós, and the oeuvres of several prominent French avant-garde artists entered the public domain in Hungary on Jan. 1, 2026, the National Office of Intellectual Property (SZTNH) informed the Hungarian News Agency (MTI).

Under European and Hungarian copyright law, protection lasts until the end of the 70th year after an author’s death. Accordingly, copyright expired on Dec. 31, 2025, for works whose last surviving author died in 1955, making them freely usable without permission or royalty payments.

Among the most prominent figures is Albert Einstein (1879–1955). His written works are now in the public domain, though mathematical formulas and laws of nature were never protected by copyright, while explanatory texts were.

Works by German novelist Thomas Mann (1875–1955), including The Magic Mountain, Mario and the Magician and Tonio Kröger, also entered the public domain. The original-language text of Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People likewise became freely usable.

The office noted that translations may remain protected, as copyright in those cases is calculated from the death of the translator.

In the visual arts, the works of French avant-garde painters Yves Tanguy (1900–1955) and Fernand Léger (1881–1955) entered the public domain. In music, the works of American composer James P. Johnson (1894–1955), associated with the Charleston style, also became freely usable.

In Hungary, particular attention surrounds the legacy of Alfréd Hajós (1878–1955), the country’s first Olympic champion and a noted architect whose works include the Aranybika Hotel in Debrecen. Also entering the public domain are the works of architect Albert Kálmán Kőrössy (1869–1955), a leading figure of Hungarian Secession, and writer Sophie Török (1865–1955), a member of the Nyugat literary generation. The Art Deco works of ceramic artist and designer Frigyes Borszéky (1880–1955) are also included.

The SZTNH noted that copyright rules differ in the United States, where some works enter the public domain 95 years after publication rather than based on the author’s death. As a result, several works are becoming public domain only in the United States while remaining protected in Hungary.

These include the 1930 film adaptation of Ferenc Molnár’s Liliom; the 1930 film adaptation of All Quiet on the Western Front based on Erich Maria Remarque’s novel; the earliest appearances of Pluto the dog in Mickey Mouse cartoons; the song Dream a Little Dream of Me; Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon; several Agatha Christie works published in 1930, including The Murder at the Vicarage; and the first four volumes of the Nancy Drew series published under the pen name Carolyn Keene.

Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI)

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