What Fairytales Are in the Public Domain? A Copyright Guide

Understanding Fairytales and Public Domain Status

Fairytales occupy a unique place in our cultural heritage. Many of the most beloved stories are freely available for anyone to adapt, retell, or reimagine without permission or payment. This freedom comes through public domain status, but understanding exactly which fairytales are in the public domain—and what that means—can be surprisingly complex.

What Does "Public Domain" Actually Mean?

Before exploring specific fairytales, it's important to understand what public domain status entails:

• Works in the public domain have no copyright restrictions
• Anyone can freely use, adapt, publish, or perform these works without seeking permission
• No royalties or licensing fees need to be paid to anyone
• The stories can be modified, updated, or reimagined without legal limitations
• Public domain status is permanent—once a work enters the public domain, it remains there

Works typically enter the public domain because their copyright terms have expired, though some works were created before copyright law existed or were deliberately placed in the public domain by their creators.

The Major Public Domain Fairytale Collections

Most classic fairytale collections that form the foundation of the genre are firmly in the public domain worldwide:

1. Charles Perrault's Tales (1697)

• Original title: "Histoires ou contes du temps passé" ("Stories or Tales from Past Times")
• Notable tales: "Cinderella," "Sleeping Beauty," "Little Red Riding Hood," "Bluebeard," "Puss in Boots"
• Public domain status: In the public domain worldwide due to age
• Significance: First major literary collection of fairytales, established many classic elements

2. Brothers Grimm's Collection (1812-1857)

• Original title: "Kinder- und Hausmärchen" ("Children's and Household Tales")
• Notable tales: "Snow White," "Hansel and Gretel," "Rapunzel," "Rumpelstiltskin," "The Frog Prince"
• Public domain status: In the public domain worldwide
• Significance: Most comprehensive collection of German folktales, underwent seven editions with significant revisions

3. Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales (1835-1872)

• Published in various collections during his lifetime
• Notable tales: "The Little Mermaid," "The Ugly Duckling," "The Snow Queen," "The Emperor's New Clothes"
• Public domain status: In the public domain worldwide
• Significance: Unlike Perrault and Grimm, Andersen wrote original literary fairytales rather than collecting folk versions

4. Joseph Jacobs' Collections (1890-1916)

• Notable collections: "English Fairy Tales," "Celtic Fairy Tales," "European Folk and Fairy Tales"
• Notable tales: "Jack and the Beanstalk," "The Three Little Pigs," "Goldilocks"
• Public domain status: In the public domain worldwide
• Significance: Preserved English-language folklore in accessible literary form

5. Andrew Lang's "Colored" Fairy Books (1889-1910)

• Series of twelve collections identified by color (Blue Fairy Book, Red Fairy Book, etc.)
• Notable for: Collecting tales from diverse cultures worldwide
• Public domain status: In the public domain worldwide
• Significance: Introduced English-speaking readers to international fairytales

Copyright Complexities: When Fairytales Aren't Fully Free

Despite the public domain status of classic collections, several complexities can affect how freely fairytales can be used:

Specific Adaptations May Be Protected

• While the original Brothers Grimm "Snow White" is public domain, Disney's 1937 film adaptation remains copyrighted
• Specific character designs, songs, and dialogue from modern adaptations have copyright protection
• Visual interpretations by illustrators may have their own copyright terms
• Translations made in recent decades may still be under copyright even when the original text is not

Trademark Considerations

• Companies like Disney hold trademarks on character names and designs from their adaptations
• Trademark protection can effectively limit certain commercial uses even when copyright has expired
• Merchandise featuring recognizable character designs may face trademark enforcement
• These protections are generally limited to commercial contexts that might cause consumer confusion

Regional Variations in Copyright Law

• Copyright terms vary by country (typically life of author plus 50-70 years)
• Some countries have special provisions for folklore and traditional cultural expressions
• International agreements have largely harmonized protection for classical fairytales
• More recent collections from the early 20th century may have different status in different countries

Finding Authentic Public Domain Fairytale Texts

For those interested in accessing the original public domain versions of classic fairytales, several excellent resources exist:

• Project Gutenberg (gutenberg.org) - Offers free ebooks of all major fairytale collections in multiple formats
• Internet Archive (archive.org) - Contains scanned versions of original editions with historical illustrations
• SurLaLune Fairy Tales (surlalunefairytales.com) - Annotated versions of classic tales with historical context
• The University of Pittsburgh's Folklore Collection - Scholarly resource for comparative folklore study
• International Children's Digital Library - Offers fairytales in their original languages

These resources allow access to unmodified versions of tales before Disney and other modern adaptations reshaped how we imagine these stories.

Lesser-Known Public Domain Fairytale Collections

Beyond the famous collections, many valuable fairytale resources in the public domain remain less widely known:

• Arabian Nights/One Thousand and One Nights - Multiple translations in public domain, including Sir Richard Burton's unexpurgated version
• Giambattista Basile's "Pentamerone" (1634) - Contains earliest literary versions of "Cinderella," "Sleeping Beauty," and "Rapunzel"
• Madame d'Aulnoy's Fairy Tales (1697-1698) - Sophisticated literary fairy tales by a French noblewoman who coined the term "fairy tales"
• Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe's "Norwegian Folktales" - Classic collection of Scandinavian tales
• Lafcadio Hearn's "Japanese Fairy Tales" - Early English adaptations of traditional Japanese stories

These collections offer fresh material for storytellers looking beyond the most familiar tales.

Modern Uses of Public Domain Fairytales

The public domain status of classic fairytales has enabled their continued cultural relevance through various adaptations:

• Film Adaptations - From Disney classics to indie reimaginings, filmmakers freely draw from public domain sources
• Literary Retellings - Authors like Angela Carter, Neil Gaiman, and Gregory Maguire create adult-oriented versions
• Video Games - Games like "The Wolf Among Us" and "American McGee's Alice" reimagine fairytale characters
• Educational Resources - Teachers create curriculum materials using timeless stories
• Theatre Productions - From Broadway's "Into the Woods" to local children's theatre

This creative freedom ensures that fairytales remain living traditions rather than museum pieces.

Creating Your Own Adaptations: Rights and Responsibilities

For creators interested in working with public domain fairytales, several considerations are important:

• Be Specific About Sources - Draw from original public domain texts rather than recent adaptations
• Research Thoroughly - Verify the public domain status for your specific usage and jurisdiction
• Consider Cultural Context - Many traditional tales have cultural significance beyond copyright concerns
• Document Your Creative Process - This helps distinguish your original contributions from public domain elements
• Consult Legal Resources - Organizations like Creative Commons and the Public Domain Review offer guidance

With proper understanding, the public domain offers incredible creative opportunities without legal risk.

Conclusion: A Cultural Commons

The public domain status of classical fairytales represents one of our most valuable cultural commons—a shared heritage that belongs to everyone. This freedom allows these stories to continually evolve, reflecting each era's values while maintaining connections to ancient storytelling traditions.

Rather than diminishing their value, the public domain has ensured that fairytales remain culturally vital, constantly reinvented by new generations of storytellers. By understanding which fairytales are freely available and how to respectfully work with this material, contemporary creators can participate in one of humanity's oldest and most enduring narrative traditions.