Research Guides: Copyright: Public Domain

What is Public Domain?

If a work is in the public domain, that means it isn't copyrighted. There are three ways for a work to enter the public domain:

It is born in the public domain. Works created by the U.S. government are automatically in the public domain, for example.
The creator decides to release the work into the public domain (more on this in the licensing section).
The work used to be copyrighted, but the copyright has expired.

When Does Copyright Expire?

Currently, the copyright lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years, and then the work goes into the public domain.

However, U.S. copyright law has undergone a lot of changes over the years and copyright expiration dates can be complex. To check whether the copyright on a specific work has expired, consult a public domain chart or timeline:

Cornell Public Domain Chart
A table listing copyright expiration dates for unpublished works, published works, international works, sound recordings, and architectural works.
Copyright Genie
Determines whether a work is copyrighted by asking you a series of questions about it.
Public Domain Slider
An interactive tool for determining whether works are in the public domain based on their publication date.

Copyright:Public Domain

What is Public Domain?

When Does Copyright Expire?