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Public Domain: An Infographic

Public Domain Simplified

Any work that falls into the following categories is in the public domain:

  • Published before 1923
  • Published between 1923-1963 with copyright notice, but no renewal
  • Published between 1923-1977 with no copyright notice
  • Published between 1978-March 1, 1989 with no copyright notice and no registration
  • The author/owner has given up rights

An easy way to remember what’s in the public domain is FRIDGE:

  • Facts: Not protectable by copyright
  • Recipes/Methods: Not protectable by copyright
  • Ideas: Not protectable by copyright
  • Dedicated Works: Works in which the author has dedicated the work to the public domain, irrevocably giving up their rights
  • Government Works: Works created by US Government employees in the course of their employment aren’t protectable by copyright law in the United States
  • Expired Works: Works in which the copyright has expired are no longer protected by copyright and are considered to be in the public domain.

via The Pennsylvania State University Library

Public Domain Slider

Use this tool to determine if a work is protected by copyright or if it is in the public domain. Move the red arrow on the right up and down based on the parameters of the work and find the answer in the white box in the top right corner.