What is Public Domain?

Public domain content belongs to the community at large. Works in the public domain are not protected by any copyright law and may be freely copied, shared, altered and republished by anyone. Public domain works have entered into this status usually because of age.

The term "public domain" includes the following:

• U.S. government publications
• Works published prior to 1923
• Works that the copyright owner has intentionally and explicitly "dedicated" to the public domain
• Works published by a single author after 1977, the copyright will not expire until 70 years after the author’s death

Use the Digital Slider below to check specific cases to determine if a work is now in the public domain and therefore, not subject to copyright.