The Public Domain: How to Find & Use Copyright-Free Writings, Music, Art & More

Table of Contents......Page 10
1. Introduction to the Public Domain......Page 18
A. What Is the Public Domain?......Page 20
B. Dealing With Public Domain Gray Areas......Page 27
C. What If Someone Challenges Your Public Domain Claim?......Page 30
D. Documenting Your Use of Public Domain Materials......Page 31
E. How to Use This Book......Page 35
2. The Use and Abuse of Copyright......Page 38
A. What Copyright Protects......Page 39
B. The Looting of the Public Domain......Page 45
3. Writings......Page 52
A. What Can You Do With Public Domain Writings?......Page 55
B. Checklist for Determining Copyright Status......Page 60
C. Is the Work Eligible for Copyright Protection?......Page 63
D. Has the Work Been Published?......Page 83
F. Is the Work in the Public Domain Due to Lack of a Copyright Notice?......Page 89
G. Does a Copyright Trap Apply?......Page 90
H. Misuse of Copyright Notices......Page 103
I. Sources of Public Domain Writings......Page 105
4. Music......Page 108
A. The Difference Between Music and Sound Recordings......Page 111
B. What Can You Do With Public Domain Sheet Music?......Page 112
C. Has the Sheet Music Been Published?......Page 117
D. Has the Copyright in the Music Expired?......Page 125
F. Is It a Derivative Work?......Page 126
G. Is It an Arrangement or Adaptation?......Page 128
H. Is the Music a Collective Work?......Page 141
I. Does the Music Have Public Domain Elements?......Page 144
J. Sources of Public Domain Sheet Music......Page 147
K. Sound Recordings......Page 151
5. Art......Page 156
Part I: Original Works of Art......Page 159
A. What Good Is Public Domain Art?......Page 160
B. Deciding If Original Art Is in the Public Domain......Page 162
C. Has the Art Been Published?......Page 163
D. Has the Copyright in the Art Expired?......Page 167
E. Is the Art in the Public Domain Due to Lack of a Copyright Notice?......Page 168
F. Is the Artwork Eligible for Copyright Protection?......Page 169
G. Do You Intend to Use the Art in Advertising or on Merchandise?......Page 177
H. Is the Art Protected by a Design Patent?......Page 178
I. Sources of Original Art......Page 180
Part II: Art Reproductions......Page 181
J. Is the Original Work of Art in the Public Domain?......Page 182
L. Has the Copyright in the Reproduction Expired?......Page 183
N. Does the Reproduction Lack Originality?......Page 184
O. Is the Reproduction Dedicated to the Public Domain?......Page 189
Q. Are Elements of the Reproduction in the Public Domain?......Page 190
R. Sources of Art Reproductions......Page 191
6. Photography......Page 198
A. What Good Are Public Domain Photographs?......Page 200
B. Deciding Whether Photographs Are in the Public Domain......Page 202
C. Sources of Public Domain Photographs......Page 211
7. Movies and Television......Page 218
Part I: Films......Page 221
A. What Good Are Public Domain Films?......Page 222
B. Has the Film Been Published?......Page 223
C. Has the Copyright Expired?......Page 225
D. Is the Film in the Public Domain Due to Lack of a Copyright Notice?......Page 232
E. Is the Film Protected by Copyright?......Page 233
F. Does the Film Contain Copyrighted Visual Art?......Page 235
G. Do You Plan to Use the Film for Advertising or Other Commercial Purposes?......Page 236
Part II: Television Programs......Page 237
H. Has the Television Program’s Copyright Expired?......Page 238
I. Is the Television Program in the Public Domain Due to Lack of a Copyright Notice?......Page 240
J. Is It a U.S. Government TV Program?......Page 241
L. Will You Be Using Public Domain TV Programs for Advertising or Other Commercial Purposes?......Page 242
M. The U.S. Government......Page 243
N. Film Archives......Page 248
O. Commercial Film and Video Suppliers......Page 250
8. Computer Software......Page 254
A. Is The Software Dedicated to the Public Domain?......Page 256
B. Was the Software Created by the U.S. Government?......Page 261
C. Has the Copyright in the Software Expired?......Page 262
E. Does the Copyrighted Software Contain Public Domain Elements?......Page 263
F. Sources of Public Domain Software......Page 270
9. Architecture......Page 272
A. What Good Is Public Domain Architecture?......Page 274
B. Architectural Plans......Page 275
C. Constructed Buildings......Page 282
10. Maps......Page 288
A. Has Copyright in the Map Expired?......Page 291
C. Was the Map Created by the U.S. Government?......Page 292
D. Is the Map Eligible for Copyright Protection?......Page 293
E. Are Elements of the Map in the Public Domain?......Page 294
F. Sources of Public Domain Maps......Page 296
11. Choreography......Page 298
A. Deciding If Choreography Is in the Public Domain......Page 300
B. Sources of Public Domain Choreography......Page 304
12. Databases and Collections......Page 306
Part I. Databases......Page 309
A. Is the Work a Database?......Page 311
B. Does the Database Lack Creativity?......Page 314
C. Was the Database Created by the U.S. Government?......Page 317
D. Has the Copyright in the Database Expired?......Page 320
E. Is the Database in the Public Domain for Lack of a Copyright Notice?......Page 321
F. Is the Database Protected by Means Other Than Copyright?......Page 322
Part II: Collections of Public Domain Works......Page 326
G. Are the Collected Materials in the Public Domain?......Page 328
H. Does the Collection Lack Minimal Creativity?......Page 330
I. Is It a De Minimis Collection?......Page 331
L. Is the Collection in the Public Domain for Lack of a Copyright Notice?......Page 332
M. Is the Collection Protected by Means Other Than Copyright?......Page 333
13. Titles......Page 334
A. Titles of Copyrighted Works......Page 335
B. Titles of Public Domain Works......Page 339
C. Using Disclaimers to Avoid Public Confusion......Page 341
E. The First Amendment and Titles......Page 342
14. Public Domain Elements in Copyrighted Writings......Page 344
A. Ideas......Page 345
B. Facts......Page 350
C. Unprotected Elements in Works of Fiction......Page 354
D. Unprotected Elements in Works of Fact.......Page 358
15. Copyrights Restored From the Public Domain......Page 366
B. What Works Were Restored?......Page 367
C. Which Works Were Not Restored?......Page 371
E. Copyright Infringement of Restored Works......Page 375
16. The Public Domain Outside the United States......Page 382
A. Introduction......Page 383
B. Copyright Duration in Other Countries......Page 386
C. The Rule of the Shorter Term......Page 394
D. Researching Foreign Copyright Laws......Page 396
17. The Internet and the Public Domain......Page 398
A. Overview of the Internet......Page 399
B. Two Preliminary Rules......Page 400
C. Internet Content in the Public Domain......Page 402
D. Potential Problems Using Public Domain Materials on the Internet......Page 408
E. Hyperlinks and the Public Domain......Page 415
F. Copyright and the Internet’s Global Dimension......Page 417
18. Copyright Protection: How Long Does It Last?......Page 420
A. Works First Published in the United States......Page 423
B. Copyright Term for Unpublished Works......Page 427
C. Works First Published Outside the United States......Page 431
19. Copyright Notice Requirements......Page 438
A. Copyright Notices and the Public Domain......Page 439
B. Does the Work Lack a Valid Notice?......Page 440
C. Is a Copyright Notice Required?......Page 445
D. Is the Omission of a Valid Notice Excused?......Page 450
E. What If You Make a Mistake?......Page 455
20. Traps for the Unwary: Trademark and Publicity Rights......Page 458
A. Should You Worry About Trademark or Publicity Problems?......Page 459
B. The Right of Publicity......Page 460
C. Trademarks......Page 465
B. Obtain Permission to Use the Work......Page 501
21. Researching Copyright Office Records......Page 474
A. Researching Copyright Renewal Records for Works Published 1923-1963......Page 475
B. Researching Copyright Registration Records......Page 497
22. What If a Work Is Not in the Public Domain?......Page 500
C. Use the Work Without Permission on the Grounds of Fair Use......Page 503
23. Help Beyond This Book......Page 524
A. Doing Your Own Legal Research......Page 525
B. More Information on Intellectual Property Law......Page 526
C. Working With an Attorney......Page 534
Appendixes......Page 538
A. Popular Songs in the Public Domain......Page 539
B. Roman Numeral Conversions......Page 554
C. Public Domain Documentation Worksheet......Page 556
Index......Page 560
Related Products......Page 584