Re-air - Ten News Explains: Public Domain 🌐

Summary

The Ten News — "Ten News Explains: Public Domain 🌐"

Episode Date: January 8, 2026
Hosts: Pamela Kirkland & Ryan Willard
Podcast Context: The Ten News is a kid-friendly show that dives into news, pop culture, and current events for curious young listeners and their adults.
Episode Focus: This episode explains the concept of "public domain" and why it matters, spotlights new works that have entered public domain, examines the recent injury of NFL player Damar Hamlin, and features engaging trivia and listener shoutouts.

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Ten News is a re-air of "Ten News Explains: Public Domain," timed to coincide with the recent Public Domain Day (January 1). Hosts Pamela and Ryan break down what public domain means, why it's important, and how it sparks creativity. The show also addresses timely news — specifically, the on-field collapse and recovery of football player Damar Hamlin — and includes fun trivia about classic characters like Winnie the Pooh. As always, the episode is packed with warmth, humor, and hands-on learning.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What is the Public Domain?

[00:54–03:00]

• Definition & Ownership
  • Pamela explains, "When a creative material like a song, book, movie, or cartoon character is in the public domain, it's owned by the public. No one person or company owns the rights anymore." (00:58)
  • Not protected by copyright, trademark, or patent; anyone can use/publicize/adapt these works.
• Practical Examples
  • Anyone can "record a public domain song, or publish copies of a public domain book. Or sell T-shirts with a public domain cartoon character on it." (01:31)
• Notable Entrants
  • "Blue Skies" by Irving Berlin just entered public domain.
  • The original Winnie the Pooh (A.A. Milne & E.H. Shepard version) is now public domain — but not the red-shirted Disney version.
    • Pamela notes, "That Pooh bear doesn't wear a red shirt, and his face looks a little different than Disney's Winnie the Pooh. Oh, bother." (01:45)

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2. How / When Works Enter the Public Domain

[02:06–02:41]

• Timing Rules
  • "In the US, books enter public domain 70 years after the author has died." (02:09)
  • Other creative works have different timeframes; each country has its own laws, making this complex.
• Corporate Influence
  • "Disney actually lobbied Congress to extend copyright laws so that their characters are protected by copyright for longer than usual." (02:28)
  • Only older versions of certain characters (e.g., "Steamboat Willie" Mickey Mouse in 2024) enter public domain first.

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3. Why Public Domain Matters

[03:00–03:43]

• Benefits

  • Free access to books and resources makes education affordable.
  • All U.S. laws are public domain — ensuring transparency for citizens.
  • Preserves cultural art, music, and films for future generations.
  • Fuels creativity: "Public Domain Inspires New Art... artists... build on the stories and art of the past." (03:21)
    • Example: Pinocchio has inspired new film versions from its public domain story.

• Ryan’s Creative Idea

  • "In my version, Pinocchio is going to be a cyborg brought to life by a meteorite, and Geppetto is going to be a secret agent. And Jiminy Cricket is going to be a cockroach. Well, maybe a cricket, but he'll have superpowers." (03:52)
  • Pamela: "That's very creative." (04:06)

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4. Engagement & Listener Callouts

[04:06–04:23]

• Pamela encourages: "Tenors, let us know what public domain stories or characters you would make movies or write books about. Visit thetenews.com/contact to leave us a voice note." (04:06)

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5. News Story: Damar Hamlin’s Injury & Recovery

[05:00–08:35]

• Incident Recap
  • 24-year-old Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin "collapsed after tackling another player. His heart actually stopped for some time." (05:04)
  • On-field medical team restored his heartbeat and got him to the hospital quickly, which "was critical to saving his life, doctors said if he had even waited a few extra seconds, the results could have been much different." (06:05)
• Medically Induced Coma
  • Explained as "hitting the pause button" to let the brain recover if there’s risk of injury.
• Hopeful Update
  • "On Thursday, we got news that Hamlin was awake and recovering. Doctors say he actually woke up and wrote them a question. Who won the game?" (06:46)
  • Over $7 million raised via Hamlin's GoFundMe, far above the original $2,500 goal.
• Football Safety Discussion
  • Reference to 187 concussions in 2021 NFL season (NY Times).
  • New rules exist but football remains a physically dangerous game.
  • "It's important for anyone playing football to wear their helmet and protective gear. And keep in mind that for an athlete to have an injury like this one is very, very rare." (08:09)
  • Ryan adds: "Getting trained in CPR and first aid is a great idea. You can end up saving someone's [life]." (08:35)

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6. Fun Segment: Trivia Time — Winnie the Pooh's Stuffed Animals

[08:48–10:16]

• Trivia Question: "Where do Christopher Robin’s original Winnie the Pooh stuffed animals live now?"
  • Choices: London Zoo, New York Public Library, Buckingham Palace
• Answer: "The New York Public Library has been the home of Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore and Kanga since 1987." (09:57)
• Memorable Quote:
  • E: "Thinking of them all together reminds me of the line from The House at Pooh Corner: so they went off together, but wherever they go and whatever happens to them on the way, and in that enchanted place on the top of the forest, a little boy and his bear will always be playing." (10:16)
  • Ryan: "I'm not crying. You're crying." (10:34)

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7. Listener Shoutout & Positive Feedback

[13:25–13:40]

• A listener called "I'm the awesome kid" wrote: "Oh my dog. Best podcast ever. So good. Ryan is so funny and Pamela is such a good host." (13:25)
  • Both hosts thank the listener, showcasing their appreciation for the young audience.

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Notable Quotes

• "Becoming part of public domain means a piece of art, music, or film belongs to everyone. But why does that matter?" — Ryan Willard (03:00)
• "Public Domain Inspires New Art... The story of Pinocchio...is in the public domain, and there are two different film versions coming out this year." — Pamela Kirkland (03:21)
• "In my version, Pinocchio is going to be a cyborg brought to life by a meteorite, and Geppetto is going to be a secret agent." — Ryan Willard (03:52)
• "Getting trained in CPR and first aid is a great idea. You can end up saving someone's [life]." — Ryan Willard (08:35)
• "A little boy and his bear will always be playing." — E, quoting "The House at Pooh Corner" (10:16)
• "I'm not crying. You're crying." — Ryan Willard (10:34)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:54 — What is public domain?
• 01:45 — Original Winnie the Pooh enters public domain
• 02:09 — How/when works enter public domain
• 02:28 — Disney & copyright extensions
• 03:00 — Why public domain is important
• 03:21 — Pinocchio and new art inspired by public domain
• 05:00 — Damar Hamlin injury and CPR save
• 06:46 — Hamlin wakes up and asks, "Who won the game?"
• 08:09 — Football safety & concussions
• 08:48 — Trivia: Where are Pooh’s stuffed animals?
• 10:16 — Memorable Pooh quote
• 13:25 — Listener shoutout

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Tone & Style

• Warm, accessible, and conversational — hosts crack jokes, ask big questions, and encourage curiosity.
• Explanations are clear, simple, and often connected to real-life examples.
• The show embodies positivity and resiliency (regarding both public domain creativity and sports safety).

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Summary Takeaways

This episode gives a fun, clear introduction to the public domain — what it is, how works like stories and songs become available for everyone, and how those works can inspire new creativity. The episode also highlights the importance of quick-thinking heroes (both medical staff on the football field and first-aid trained people everywhere), underlining the value of compassion and safety. Kids are encouraged to think big, create, ask questions, and get involved — whether in stories, sports, or just learning more about the world.

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For further learning: Visit thetenews.com/contact to share your own public domain-inspired ideas or questions!

Transcript

[A]

Blue skies smiling at me Nothing but blue skies do I see.

[B]

Wow, Ryan, you're so cheerful today.

[A]

Well, Pamela, one of my New Year's resolutions is to spread happiness.

[B]

Blue Skies by Irving Berlin is the perfect song to do that. Plus, it just entered public domain.

[A]

My other resolution is to tell the truth, and I don't really know what public public domain is.

[B]

Well, let's find out today. I'm Pamela Kirkland.

[A]

And I'm Ryan Willard. It's Wednesday, January 11, 2023.

[B]

This is the 10 News.

[A]

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.

[C]

1.

[A]

Public domain day was January 1. But what is public domain?

[B]

I think it's time for the 10 news. Explains. When a creative material like a song, book, movie, or cartoon character is in the public domain, it's owned by the public. No one person or company owns the rights anymore. So the material is not copyrighted, trademarked, or protected by a patent.

[A]

So that means anyone can use this song, book, movie, or cartoon character for any purpose, right?

[B]

Right. They can record a public domain song, or publish copies of a public domain book. Or sell T shirts with a public domain cartoon character on it.

[A]

Didn't one really big character enter the public domain this year?

[B]

Yes, well, sort of. Winnie the Pooh is now in the public domain, but only The Pooh from A.A. milne's books, illustrated by E.H. shepard. That Pooh bear doesn't wear a red shirt, and his face looks a little different than Disney's Winnie the Pooh. Oh, bother.

[A]

But why is only the oldest Winnie the Pooh public domain?

[B]

Because in the US books enter public domain 70 years after the author has died. But the amount of time things are copyrighted is different for every kind of creative work. And each country has its own laws, so it can get kind of confusing.

[A]

Uh, help.

[B]

Disney actually lobbied Congress to extend copyright laws so that their characters are protected by copyright for longer than usual.

[D]

Whoa.

[A]

What? But I heard Mickey Mouse is also entering the public domain.

[B]

Yep. In 2024, Mickey Mouse will enter public domain, but only the Mickey from the animated short film Steamboat Willie. That's because of the way copyright law works in the US And Disney played a role in how copyright law works. Oh, boy.

[A]

So becoming part of public domain means a piece of art, music, or film belongs to everyone. But why does that matter?

[B]

There are so many benefits to public domain. Free access to books makes education affordable. Every law the US Government makes is public domain. So all citizens can see exactly what our government is doing. Important cultural art, like films and music can be preserved for future generations. Plus, Public Domain Inspires New Art the story of Pinocchio, originally by Carlo Collidi, is in the public domain, and there are two different film versions coming out this year. Public Domain allows artists to build on the stories and art of the past.

[A]

You will always be my real boy. Wow. So I could make a movie version of Pinocchio based on the original story?

[B]

You sure could.

[A]

Okay. But in my version, Pinocchio is going to be a cyborg brought to life by a meteorite, and Geppetto is going to be a secret agent. And Jiminy Cricket is going to be a cockroach. Well, maybe a cricket, but he'll have superpowers.

[B]

That's very creative. Tenors. Let us know what public domain stories or characters you would make movies or write books about. Visit thetennews.comcontact to leave us a voice note.

[A]

Hey tenors, we at the 10 News are so excited because International Lego Day is coming up on January 28th and we are planning a celebration. We want to know what do you want to build or do you have any ideas you want Lego to hear about? Or what sets do you want them to make next? Send us your ideas, we want your big Lego questions. International Lego Day is nearly here, so visit the 10news.com contact and we might give you a shout out in our lego Special on January 25th. We're back from break and there was a big news story while we were away.

[B]

Even if you weren't watching Monday Night Football last week, you you've probably heard by now the tragedy that happened during the game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals. 24 year old Buffalo Bills player Demar Hamlin collapsed after tackling another player. His heart actually stopped for some time and it was a scary moment for everyone on the field and everyone watching at home. But the medical staff on site was able to restore his heartbeat while he was still lying on the field. He was then rushed to the hospital for further treatment. It's still not clear whether Hamlin's injury is the result of a pre existing medical condition or a collision that caused his heart to stop beating after impact, a condition called commotiocordis. Medical teams are always present during professional and even college sports. When something like this happens or a player is injured, they can jump into action immediately. In this case, the medical team is being credited with saving demar Hamlin's life because they were able to act so quickly. The assistant athletic trainer for the Bills administered CPR to Hamlin almost immediately. That was critical to saving his life, doctors said if he had even waited a few extra seconds, the results could have been much different. Hamlin was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center's intensive care unit and put into what's called a medically induced coma. Think of it like hitting the pause button on your Apple tv. When a person suffers an injury as bad as Hamlin's, there's a concern that there might be damage to his brain. To try and stop more damage from happening, doctors can put your body in a hibernation state to allow time for the brain to recover. On Thursday, we got news that Hamlin was awake and recovering. Doctors say he actually woke up and wrote them a question. Who won the game? They explained what had happened to him, and he was surprised to learn that he'd been asleep for two and a half days. He has a long road to recovery, but the improvements he's made over the past couple of days continue to give his fans and family hope. You can do it. And out of tragedy and outpouring of support in 2020, Hamlin set up a GoFundMe page sponsored by his foundation, the EMS Foundation. Hamlin's charity raises funds for toys for children hardest hit by the COVID 19 pandemic. The fundraising goal was $2,500, but after Hamlin's injury, donations poured in, and they've raised more than 7 million million. More than 200,000 donations have been submitted. Awesome.

[A]

So is football dangerous? Could this happen again?

[B]

Well, what happened last week has brought up a lot of questions about how safe sports like football really are for professionals and for kids. The New York Times reported the NFL saw 187 concussions in the 2021 season. There've been new rules that better protect health and safety in the last year, but the game is still seen as being hard to make less dangerous. It's important for anyone playing football to wear their helmet and protective gear. And keep in mind that for an athlete to have an injury like this one is very, very rare.

[A]

And that getting trained in CPR and first aid is a great idea. You can end up saving someone's.

[E]

Welcome to the trivia room.

[A]

First trivia of the new year. Sign me up, please.

[E]

Ryan, get in here and hop on the trivia throne for today's trivia question. You ready?

[A]

Abso toot ly.

[C]

What is going on here?

[B]

Trivia on the 10.

[E]

Winnie the Pooh is now in the public domain. The characters that live in the Hundred Acre Wood are all inspired by stuffed animals. Author A.A. milne's real son, Christopher Robin, played with but do you know where those stuffed animals live now? Is it A, London Zoo, B, the New York Public Library, or C, Buckingham Palace? Tenners, did you guess it? Ryan, what's your answer?

[A]

Okay, well, I've been to the New York Public Library and I definitely did not see any stuffed animals. So I'm going to guess A, the London Zoo.

[E]

The answer is

[B]

B,

[E]

the New York Public Library has been the home of Winnie the Pooh, Pennsylvania Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore and Kanga since 1987. Unfortunately, Christopher Robin lost Roo in an apple orchard sometime in the 1930s.

[B]

Bummer.

[A]

Wow. That's amazing. I can't believe they're in New York. I gotta go see them.

[E]

Me too. Thinking of them all together reminds me of the line from the house at Pooh. So they went off together, but wherever they go and whatever happens to them on the way, and in that enchanted place on the top of the forest, a little boy and his bear will always be playing.

[A]

I'm not crying. You're crying. And now we're going to Give some special 10 new snaps to one of our listeners.

[B]

But before we do, here's a quick note for the grownups.

[C]

Hey, 10 news families. As we head into spring, homeschool parents know this is the time to finish the year strong. Between activities, travel and everything else filling up the calendar, it can be tricky to keep learning on track. Well, that's where IXL comes in. IExcel is an award winning online learning platform that fits seamlessly into homeschooling. It offers interactive practice across math, language arts, science and social studies from Pre K through 12th grade. Iexcel personalizes learning for each child, keeps them engaged, and gives parents clear insight into progress. Kids get instant explanations so they can learn in the moment. And parents get detailed reports that clearly show the growth and areas to strengthen. Plus, everything is organized by grade and subject, so it's easy to find exactly what your child needs. So make an impact on your child's learning. Get IXL now and the 10News listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at www.ixl.com 10. Visit www.ixl.com 10 to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price. Hey 10 news families. As we head into spring, homeschool parents know this is the time to finish the year strong. Between activities, travel and everything else filling up the calendar, it can be tricky to keep learning on track. Well, that's where IEXCEL comes in. Iexcel is an award winning online learning platform that fits seamlessly into homeschooling. It offers interactive practice across math, language arts, science and social studies from Pre K through 12th grade. IXL personalizes learning for each child, keeps them engaged, and gives parents clear insight into progress. Kids get installed instant explanations so they can learn in the moment, and parents get detailed reports that clearly show the growth and areas to strengthen. Plus, everything is organized by grade and subject, so it's easy to find exactly what your child needs. So make an impact on your child's learning. Get IXL now and the 10News listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at www.ixl.com. visit www.ixl.com 10 to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price.

[A]

Time for the 10 news snaps

[B]

tenner I'm the awesome kid wrote this review of the 10 news. Oh my dog. Best podcast ever. So good. Ryan is so funny and PA Pamela is such a good host. Why thank you.

[A]

Thanks. I'm the awesome kid and thanks for listening to the 10News. 10 things you need to Know drops every Tuesday and our in depth reports drop every Wednesday. But if you want some bonus content you can join the Tenors Club on our website or on Apple Podcasts. Check out the website or our channel on Apple to learn more.

[B]

The 10News is a co production of Small but Mighty Media and Next chapter podcasts.

[A]

The 10News Creative Team the 10News Creative Team is auditioning for Ryan's Pinocchio film and includes Tracy Crooks, Pete Musto, and Tessa Flannery.

[B]

Our production director is Jeremiah Tittle and our executive producers are Donald Albright and show creator Tracey Leeds Kaplan.

[A]

I'm Ryan Willard.

[B]

And I'm Pamela Kirkland. Thanks for listening to the 10 news. Hey, does anyone know when Beyonce enters public domain.

[D]

Grown ups? If there's a child in your life who is interested in, curious about or fascinated by people and places from history, then my podcast the Past and the Curious might just be a hit in your home. From the invention of microscopes to world traveling dogs to fashions of the 1890s Gold Rush Ghost towns and and audiences going wild for walking competitions, we've got a little bit of it all. Hosted by children's author and museum educator Mick Sullivan.

[E]

That's me.

[D]

The show is fun, funny, engaging, honest and beloved by kids and parents alike. Find the past and the curious at all the usual podcast places.