What is the public domain?
The public domain consists of works never or no longer protected by copyright. These works are generally free to use, share, adapt, or modify.
How do works enter the public domain?
There are four ways for a work to become public domain.
- The copyright expires
- The work missed requirements or formalities required in previous iterations of the law
- The work was never protected by copyright to begin with
- The creator dedicates the work to the public domain
How does copyright expire?
Once the term of copyright ends, the work enters the public domain. Currently, most works published before 1926 are in the public domain. There are varying terms of protection for works published between 1926 and 1978. Refer to the Copyright Term and Public Domain chart for specific questions.
Why should I care about public domain works?
Because these works can be used in anyway without having to rely on an exception or seek permission. That means they can be adapted, modified, shared, or reused for teaching, research, and artistic pursuits. For example, works created by federal government employees in the scope of their employment are in the public domain. So data from the CDC, pamphlets from the National Parks Service, and photographs from NASA can be used freely in your teaching. It also means many WWI propaganda posters or political cartoons created before 1926 can be displayed or adapted.