The Public Domain

A work of authorship is in the “public domain” if it is no longer under copyright protection or if it failed to meet the requirements for copyright protection. Works of the U.S. Government are also in the public domain. Works in the public domain may be used freely without the permission of the former copyright owner.

Public Domain Determination Tables

• Copyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States (original suthorship by Cornell Copyright Information Center)
  
• When U.S. Works Pass into the Public Domain (Gassaway; University of North Carolina)
  
• When Works Pass into the Public Domain (Purdue University Copyright Office)

Copyright Registration Records

• Search Copyright Records: Registrations and Documents (U.S. Copyright Office)


• Copyright Renewal Records (Michael Lesk; Rutgers University SCILS)