'Nancy Drew' Turns 95 and She's Finally Free: What That Means for Fans

On January 1, 2026, America’s favorite teen detective officially escaped copyright protection. The first four Nancy Drew mysteries from 1930—The Secret of the Old Clock, The Hidden Staircase, The Bungalow Mystery, and The Mystery at Lilac Inn—entered the public domain, meaning anyone can now legally use, adapt, and reimagine the iconic character without permission or fees.

For generations who discovered Nancy through yellow-spine paperbacks in the 1980s and 1990s, or watched her solve mysteries on TV throughout the decades, this news marks a cultural milestone. The character has captivated readers since her 1930 debut, selling over 80 million copies worldwide and inspiring countless adaptations, from the 1970s series starring Pamela Sue Martin (a spinoff of the very popular Hardy Boys TV series) to the 1995 syndicated show, the 2007 Emma Roberts film, video games, and even the more recent CW series.

The public domain shift means creators can now develop Nancy Drew content freely, from films and stage productions to graphic novels and new literary adventures. Previously, anyone wanting to adapt the character needed permission and licensing fees from the rights holders.

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‘What’s different now is if you and me are really good at choreographing dance moves and writing lyrics for songs, we could make our own musical featuring [Nancy Drew] and we can go in whatever crazy directions we want,’ explains Jennifer Jenkins, director of Duke University’s Center for the Study of the Public Domain.

But perhaps the most compelling part of this story isn’t Nancy herself, but rather the remarkable woman who created her. For 50 years, Mildred Wirt Bensonremained anonymous, writing 23 of the first 30 Nancy Drew books under the pseudonym ‘Carolyn Keene’ while being paid just $125-$250 per book. She had to sign away all rights and keep silent about her authorship.

When her identity finally became public in 1993, the world discovered that the real Nancy Drew was even more extraordinary than the fictional one. Benson was the first woman to earn a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Iowa. She became a pilot after her husband’s death, explored archaeological sites in Central America, and worked as a journalist at the Toledo Blade for 58 years, writing her weekly column until her death in 2002 at age 96.

Benson deliberately made Nancy ‘an unusually liberated woman’ for 1930, imbuing her with independence and courage that inspired generations of readers. Her favorite was The Hidden Staircase, the second book in the series, now freely available for anyone to reimagine.

As Nancy Drew’s earliest adventures join classics like Betty Boop and The Maltese Falcon in the public domain, the character who taught millions to trust their instincts and solve their own mysteries is finally free, just as Benson always intended her to be.

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