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Copyright and Fair Use

Public Domain

The public domain knowledge, information and works are no longer protected by copyright law. For example U.S. Government works are in the public domain, but not the works created by state governments. Facts also don’t fall under copyright law. They are in the public domain. (Carrie Russell, 2004)

The Public Domain Chart - Works Published in the U.S.

Date of Publication

Conditions

Copyright Term

Before 1923

None

In the public domain 

1923 through 1977

Published without a copyright notice

In the public domain 

1978 to 1 March 1989

Published without notice, and without subsequent registration within 5 years

In the public domain

1978 to 1 March 1989

Published without notice, but with subsequent registration within 5 years

70 years after the death of author, or if work of corporate authorship, 95 years from publication

1923 through 1963

Published with notice but copyright was not renewed

In the public domain

1923 through 1963

Published with notice and the copyright was renewed

95 years after publication date

1964 through 1977

Published with notice

95 years after publication date

1978 to 1 March 1989

Created after 1977 and published with notice

70 years after death of author, or if work of corporate authorship, 95 years from publication

1978 to 1 March 1989

Created before 1978 and first published with notice in this period

The greater of the term specified in the previous entry or 31 December 2047

From 1 March 1989 through 2002

Created after 1977

70 years after death of author, or if work of corporate authorship, 95 years from publication

From 1 March 1989 through 2002

Created before 1978 and first published in this period

The greater of the term specified in the previous entry or 31 December 2047

After 2002

None

70 years after death of author, or if work of corporate authorship, 95 years from publication

For the detailed table, see: http://copyright.cornell.edu/resources/publicdomain.cfm.

Useful Websites

Copyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States

Digital Tools (from the American Library Association Office for Information Technology Policy)