Public Domain
What is Public Domain?
Copyright protection only lasts for a limited duration of time, after which point, the copyright holder no longer possesses exclusive rights over the work. When a copyrights duration has expired, it enters the public domain, meaning the set of works available to be freely used by the general public.
When Does a Work Enter the Public Domain?
Short Answer: For works created on or after January 1, 1978, copyright duration is the author's life + 70 years. For works for hire or anonymous works protections are for 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever is shorter. After this point, the work enters the public domain.
Long Answer: It can be complicated. For works published at different times and places, different eras of copyright law set the duration until a work enters the public domain. Here are some resources for determining whether a work is in the public domain:
US Copyright Office Circular 15A: Duration of Copyright
Cornell University Copyright Term Guide
American Library Association Public Domain Slider
