Already considered public domain in his home country of England, Sherlock Holmes and his associated characters have been ruled public domain in America this past Friday by a federal judge.
I actually liked the first movie, probably because it was nothing like having to read the books. So here's the trailer for the next "Sherlock Holmes" movie. Robert Downey Jr. does the intro, because you know he's in it and stuff. His British accent kinda sucks, but Jude Law's is pretty good...