Public Domain

Public Domain

Copyright does not last forever. Copyright has a limited time frame. The Sonny Bono Extension Act recently added 20 years to the copyright term. This act extends all copyrighted works for a total of 70 years past the creator's death. Works in the Public Domain are free to use without permission of the copyright holder.

Reasons for materials to be in the Public Domain:

	Any works published before 1923 is now in the Public Domain
	Public Domain is a collection of works that are not protected by copyright law

Types of works not covered by copyright laws

Government works

	Blank forms
	Ideas
	Short phrases
	Titles
	Extemporaneous speeches
	Legislative enactments

Keys to finding materials in the Public Domain

	Know when the copyright will expire
	Know if the author is still alive
	Know when the materials was published or registered
	Know who created the material

Materials that, through some error in the renewal process, failed to be renewed are possibly in the Public Domain

Materials that the author grants to be in the Public Domain

When Works Pass into the Public Domain

Date of Work	Protected From	Term
Created 1-1-78 or after	When work is fixed in a tangible form	Life + 70 years or 120 years from creation
Published before 1923	In public domain	None
Published from 1923-1963	When published with copyright notice	28 years + possible renewal for another 47 years, now extended for 20 additional years-a total renewal of 67 years. If not renewed, will be in public domain. 95 years total possible
Published from 1964-1977	When published with copyright notice	28 years + automatic extension of 67 years for total of 95 years
Created before 1-1-78 but not published	1-1-78, the effective date of the 1976 Copyright Act	Life + 70 year of 12-31-2002 whichever is greater
Created before 1-1-78 but published between then and 12-31-2001	1-1-78, the effective date of the 1976 Copyright Act	Life + 70 years or 12-31-2047 whichever is greater