Public Domain

Works in the Public Domain is not protected by copyright. It can be used freely by anyone without permission but should still have attribution.

Works fall into the Public Domain for these reasons:

• the term of copyright has expired
• the copyright owner failed to follow copyright renewal rules
• the creator of the work dedicated it to the public domain
• the work is of a type not protected by copyright

Video: What is Public Domain?

Produced by the U.S. Copyright Office (3:24 minutes)

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