Why do entertainment companies turn to deceased authors?

In recent weeks, several foreign media outlets, including The Hollywood Reporter, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal, published reports addressing the issue that many content production companies and major film and animation studios are using works by deceased authors to supply their content needs.

IBNA reporter states, with the increase in content production and the growing number of film and series streaming platforms, content supply has become one of the main concerns for companies active in the entertainment industry.

In this regard, in recent years, we have observed that many content production companies choose content that is less costly from a legal perspective and, on the other hand, its success is guaranteed in advance due to the author’s fame or the work’s credibility.

Using works by deceased authors for films, series, and animations is one of the most important strategies that major companies have adopted to produce their desired products, thereby not only supplying content but also attracting more audiences.

In the United States, based on copyright law, every artistic work is subject to copyright for 70 years after the death of its creator. After this period, the work’s ownership is declared public domain, and anyone can use it without paying royalties.

One of the most well-known examples of using works by deceased authors is the works created based on the novels of Agatha Christie, the famous English writer.

Also, the use of Sherlock Holmes stories is another successful example in this field, with popular television series being made based on them, in addition to new books being published.

Content supply for video games has also become one of the main concerns for entertainment companies.

Furthermore, entertainment companies also use deceased authors in the creation of their animated works.

Disney, in creating many of its famous animations like Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty, has used folk tales and fairy tales, which often have no specific authors and are in the public domain.

This method allows companies to access high-quality content at a lower cost while leveraging the fame and credibility of the works.

Ultimately, using works by deceased authors is a smart strategy for entertainment companies, helping them succeed in today’s competitive market and attract more audiences.

Given this trend, it seems that this approach will continue in the future, and more companies will turn to this rich source of content.