Given how much “Dick and Jane” have been used sardonically, one might think Zerna Sharp’s schoolbook characters were already public domain. But you can’t copyright names, expressive style, or stock situations, and fair use allows limited copying for purposes like criticism, analysis, and parody.

In 9 days, the 1930 Elson Basic Readers introducing Dick and Jane join the public domain, and their stories’ full texts and original artwork can be reused without limit. #PublicDomainDayCountdown