LibGuides: Copyright, Fair Use, and the Public Domain: Public Domain

What is the Public Domain?

Works that are no longer under copyright protection are in the public domain. Works in the public domain can be freely used without permission. There are four common ways that a work enters the public domain:

the copyright has expired
the owner of the copyright failed to follow copyright renewal rules
the owner of the copyright forfeited copyright or deliberately placed their work in the public domain
copyright law does not apply to the type of work

Tools to Determine Copyright Status of a Work

Copyright Digital Slider
This interactive tool helps to assess the copyright status of materials published in the U.S.
Copyright Flow Chart
Copyright protection terms in a flowchart format.
The Copyright Genie
The Copyright Gene can help you find out if a work is covered by U.S. copyright, calculate a works terms of protection, and export the results as a PDF.
Copyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States
From the Cornell University Libraries, this detailed table lays out the copyright protection for works published in the U.S.

Copyright Catalogs

The Catalog of Copyright Entries, published by the US Copyright Office, contains a list of all copyright registrations received by the Copyright Office.

Copyright Registrations Public Catalog
U.S. Copyright Office catalog of copyright registrations and renewals. Does not include works registered prior to 1978.
Catalog of Copyright Entries
Digital copies of the Catalog of Copyright Entries from 1891-1978.