What do BETTY BOOP, NANCY DREW, SAM SPADE and MISS MARPLE have in COMMON?

[AviatorTom]

Betty Boop

What do the iconic fictional characters BETTY BOOP, NANCY DREW, SAM SPADE and MISS MARPLE have in COMMON?

Hint: It has something to do with the year 2026.

Correct answer will be given in a few days (Sunday).

Updates

5 mo

The copyright on each of these characters expired on 1 January 2026, and their works are now in the public domain.
Congratulations to those who knew that.

[OlderAndWiser]

They are all fictional characters created in the 1920's and 1930's. Miss Marple may be having her 100th birthday this year, but not the others. Have they jointly planned an orgy for later this year?

[exitseven]

Isn;t she married to Prince William?

[exitseven]

They are now in the public domain.

[exitseven]

Thanks for the MHO😎

[purplepoppy]

Their FBI files are due to be released.

[queenofcardio]

I would have never gotten it

[Massageman]

The previously protected artwork, characters, etc. of each now enter the "public domain", no longer protected under copyright laws. So, have at it, for those who can't up with their own characters.

[DJB72]

They all turn 96 this year - first appearance in each case was 1930

Boop was a cartoon while the other 3 were novels, she also started as an anthropomorphic poodle but it was still 1930.

[AngryCarl2]

They were all born in 1926 and will celebrate their centenary this year.

[NathanDavis]

I don't even know who the other are... lol

[sage2021]

@NathanDavis

Hahaha 🤣🤣 you would probably have to be a lot older for you to know who they are.
But as for me, I perfectly understand the question. 😎

[NathanDavis]

@sage2021 I only know about Betty Boop... lol

[sage2021]

@NathanDavis

There used to be an old TV show called "Nancy Drew Mysteries." It was on one night a week and she was kinda young and always solving a mystery. It was a good show at the time. FYI

[WonderingManII]

They are all Women.

[AviatorTom]

@wonderingmanii Sam Spade is a male detective 🤔

[WonderingManII]

ooops, I didn't see Sam Spade. I never heard of him.

[Xawyx-2]

They are all fictional :D