These tools may help identify when your material was published and copyrighted; as well as renewed in its copyright (If applicable). You may also find information on the length of protection.
If a work is within the public domain, there are no ownership rights associated it.
Anyone may reproduce, redistribute, or adapt the work and there is no longer a need to seek permission for its use.
This particular statute does not define public domain, but does explain the conditions necessary for copyright protection, the types of works that are eligible for protection, the rights of copyright holders and the exceptions to these exclusive rights.
It will be 2019 before anything else enters the public domain.
| DATE OF WORK | PROTECTED FROM | TERM |
| Created 1-1-78 or after | When work is fixed in tangible medium of expression | Life + 70 years or if work of corporate authorship, the shorter of 95 years from publication, or 120 years from creation |
|
Published before 1923 |
In public domain | None |
| Published from 1923 - 63 | When published with notice | 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 | 1-1-78, the effective date of the 1976 Act which eliminated common law copyright | Life + 70 years or 12-31-2002, whichever is greater |
| Created before 1-1-78 but published between then and 12-31-2002 |
1-1-78, the effective date of the 1976 Act which eliminated common law copyright | Life + 70 years or 12-31-2047 |
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