Following the EU law that restricts copyrights of authors for only 70 years after their death, on 1st January the iconic cartoon character Popeye the Sailor Man became public domain in the EU.

In the late 1938, the creator of Popeye, Elzie Segar expired.

A whopping sum of $2.5 billion USD is generated by the 'Popeye industry' in the annual sales and merchandise comes in the form of books, toys, computer games, canned spinach and even a fast-food chain. Anyone can sell Popeye drawings merchandise, with no worries of needing authorization for being responsible for royalties, since it is in public domain.

It would be worth noting here that the character is only public domain in the EU, and is still protected in the US until 2024, 95 years after the creator's death. However, the Popeye trademark is a separate entity and is owned by the Hearst Corporation which would protect the brand very aggressively.

"The Segar drawings are out of copyright, so anyone could put those on T-shirts, posters and cards and create a thriving business. If you sold a Popeye toy or Popeye spinach can, you could be infringing the trademark," reported Mark Owen, an intellectual property specialist at the law firm Harbottle & Lewis.

"Popeye is one of the first of the famous 20th-century cartoon characters to fall out of copyright. Betty Boop and ultimately Mickey Mouse will follow," Owen added.