Learn more about the public domain and the best resources to explore it.
Check out the Public Domain defined and learn about trouble spots within this world of free, unrestricted use.
Is a specific work is in the Public Domain? Try out this this Public Domain Calculator to see if it is, or when it will be.
Looking at an international work? Try the Published outside the US Public Domain Flowchart to determine if works first published outside the US is in Public Domain.
Here are some important insights into the crucial role Public Domain plays:
Supporting OAC through Creative Commons.
A look at how the current US law extends copyright for 70 years after the date of the author’s death and 95 for corporate “work-for-hire” works. Prior to 1976 Copyright Act, these works would have become available in 2018, now we will have to wait until 2057.
Open Access
Open Access Overview - an introduction and overview of OA.
Open Access Directory - definitions of major terms and facts about OAC.
Where to find Public Domain Materials? Some great resources...
Established in 2003, e-LIS is an international digital repository for Library and Information Science (LIS).
Provides links to copyright free audio, images, scores and text.
Non-profit, free, volunteer-driven audiobook source.
123 photos now in Public Domain from NYTimes.
Prelinger Archives was founded in 1983 by Rick Prelinger in New York City. Over the next twenty years, it grew into a collection of over 60,000 "ephemeral" (advertising, educational, industrial, and amateur) films. This Public Domain Archive boasts 6,970 films.
A collection of over 57,000 free eBooks. Choose among free epub books, free kindle books, download them or read them online.
Showcasing the interesting and recent material entering public domain.
An amazing repository of 3,483 photos from the Smithsonian Institute.
The Library offers guidance to use Public Domain and Creative Commons matierals and guides users to even more resources for this type of contnet in music, visual art, images, and more.