Copyright Resources

The Public Domain is the term used to describe the set of works not protected by intellectual property laws such as copyright, trademark, or patent laws. It is the name for those works that are held in common by the public and can be used freely as a resource for new knowledge.

Four common ways that works fall into the public domain include:

• the copyright has expired
• the copyright owner failed to follow copyright renewal rules
• the copyright owner deliberately places it in the public domain, known as “dedication,” or
• copyright law does not protect this type of work.

Works in the public domain may be used freely without the permission of the former copyright owner (U.S. Copyright Office). It is highly recommended that you give proper attribution, however.

You can use the Digital Copyright Slider to find out if a work is in the Public Domain.

This tool can help you determine if a work is in the public domain.