U.S. Public Domain
Public Domain is a term that refers to copyrightable material that is not covered by copyright protection. Works in the public domain may be used freely without the permission of the creator.
Public domain applies to a work's copyright, not the personal rights of those appearing within those works. If there are personal rights associated with public domain content, proper permission from the individuals affected must be obtained.
U.S. Public Domain
Public Domain is a term that refers to copyrightable material that is not covered by copyright protection. Works in the public domain may be used freely without the permission of the creator.
Public domain applies to a work's copyright, not the personal rights of those appearing within those works. If there are personal rights associated with public domain content, proper permission from the individuals affected must be obtained.
All public domain material should be credited to the original source. Please review the Credit Line Quick Guide for more information.
If you have questions regarding public domain, please contact your Editorial Team for assistance. When in doubt, it is always best to obtain permission for all third-party content used within your work.
Please note: Public domain only applies to a work published in the U.S.
Three ways a U.S. Work enters the Public Domain
Copyright rules vary significantly around the world. For works created/published in the United States, there are three primary ways the work may enter the public domain:
Please note that the information provided on this site is not intended to be legal advice. You may wish to consult with your own legal counsel regarding your legal obligations.