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Information on Copyright |
When U.S. Works Pass into
the Public Domain
By Lolly Gasaway, University of North Carolina
Definitions:
A public domain work is a creative work that is not protected by copyright andwhich may be freely used by everyone. The reasons that the work is not protected may include:- the term of copyright for the work has expired;
- the author failed to satisfy statutory formalities to perfect the copyright, or
- the work is a work of the U.S. Government.
| Date of Work | Protected From | Term |
| Created 1/1/1978 or after | When work is fixed in tangible medium of expression | Life of author + 70 years (1) (or, if a work of corporate authorship, the shorter of 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation (2) |
| Published before 1923 | In public domain | None |
| Published from 1923 - 63 | When published with notice (3) | 28 years + could be renewed for 47 years, now extended by 20 years for a total renewal of 67 years. If not so renewed, now in public domain |
| Published from 1964 - 77 | When published with notice | 28 years for first term; now automatic extension of 67 years for second term |
| Created before 1/1/78 but not published | 1/1/1978, the effective date of the 1976 Act which eliminated common law copyright | Life of author + 70 years or 12/31/2002, whichever is greater |
| Created before 1/1/1978 but published between then and 12/31/2002 | 1/1/1978, the effective date of the 1976 Act which eliminated common law copyright | Life of author + 70 years or 12/31/2047 whichever is greater |
- Term of joint works is measured by life of the longest-lived author.
- Works for hire, anonymous and pseudonymous works also have this term. 17 U.S.C. § 302(c).
- Under the 1909 Act, works published without notice went into the public domain upon publication. Works published without notice between 1-1-78 and 3-1-89, effective date of the Berne Convention Implementation Act, retained copyright only if efforts to correct the accidental omission of notice was made within five years, such as by placing notice on unsold copies. 17 U.S.C. § 405.
© 2003-2010 Leslie Berman
