Enrichment · Passion Projects

Still protected,
or free to use.

A 1958 pamphlet may already be free to reprint while a 1975 novel is protected until 2070. The answer depends on when the work was published, whether it carried a notice, whether it was renewed and who made it. Answer those questions and the term works itself out.

Check a workWhat you get

Your works

The worked example uses the real rules on five examples: a 1925 novel, an unrenewed 1958 pamphlet, a 1975 novel, photographs by a living author and a company video. Saved on this device only.

Loading the work form. If nothing appears, turn on JavaScript.

What you get

Enrichment · Passion ProjectsFree

What you finish with
A record per work with its kind, year created, published or not and the year, where it was first published, the kind of author, the year the last author died, and for older works the notice and renewal. Gives the U.S. result in words: in the public domain since a date, protected through a date, or a case to check, with the rule that decided it; totals public domain and protected works and names the next to become free.
Who it is for
Students and teachers using old texts, images and music; family historians reprinting old material; writers, podcasters and makers checking what they can reuse.
Format
Browser calculator with a saved record per work. Prints one result, every work in a table or a blank form; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
Free. No account, no sign-in and nothing to install. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Passion Projects space in Caveat Enrichment.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Find the first publication year and look for a © notice.
  2. For 1931 to 1963 works, search the renewal records.
  3. Add the year the last author died, if known.
  4. Read the result and the rule behind it.
  5. For anything marked check, use the Cornell chart or ask a librarian.

Check a work

The U.S. terms at a glance

U.S. works, by when they were made publicPublished before 1931Public domain nowPublished 1931 to 1977 without a © noticePublic domainPublished 1931 to 1963, never renewedPublic domain after 28 yearsPublished 1931 to 1963 and renewed, or 1964 to 197795 years from publicationCreated 1978 or later, named authorLife of the author + 70 yearsCreated 1978 or later, for hire or anonymous95 or 120 years, whichever ends firstU.S. works, by periodPublished before 1931Public domain nowPublished 1931 to 1977 without a ©noticePublic domainPublished 1931 to 1963, never renewedPublic domain after 28 yearsPublished 1931 to 1963 and renewed, or1964 to 197795 years from publicationCreated 1978 or later, named authorLife of the author + 70 yearsCreated 1978 or later, for hire oranonymous95 or 120 years, whichever ends first
Every term runs to the end of the calendar year, so works enter the public domain on January 1.

Public domain is per country

These are U.S. rules. Many other countries use the life of the author plus 70 years for everything, so a work free in the U.S. can be protected elsewhere, and the other way round.

Pieces with their own terms

A public domain book can have a new introduction, translation or cover that is protected. A public domain song can be in a recent recording that is not. Check each layer you plan to use.

Sources

  1. U.S. Copyright Office. Circular 15A, Duration of Copyright (copyright.gov).
  2. Hirtle, P. B. Copyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States, Cornell University Library (copyright.cornell.edu).
  3. 17 U.S.C. §§302–304, duration of copyright (law.cornell.edu).
  4. Center for the Study of the Public Domain, Duke Law School. Public Domain Day (web.law.duke.edu/cspd).

The worked example applies the rules to sample works. This is a guide to U.S. terms in general, not legal advice; foreign works, sound recordings and works published from 1978 to 1989 without a notice can follow other rules. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.