As of my last update in April 2023, Popeye the Sailor Man, the character created by E.C. Segar, is not entirely in the public domain. The early comic strips, specifically those created by Segar before 1950, have entered the public domain. This means that the specific depictions of Popeye and related characters in those early works can be used freely. However, later versions of Popeye, including many animated adaptations and any original elements introduced in those later works, remain under copyright. The rights to these versions are held by King Features Syndicate, a unit of Hearst Holdings.