"A work of authorship is in the 'public domain' if it is no longer under copyright protection or if it failed to meet the requirements for copyright protection. Works in the public domain may be used freely without the permission of the former copyright owner." (https://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-definitions.html)

Considerations for copyrighted works entering the public domain.

  • "As a general rule, for works created after January 1, 1978, copyright protection lasts for the life of the author plus an additional 70 years."
  • "For an anonymous work, a pseudonymous work, or a work made for hire, the copyright endures for a term of 95 years from the year of its first publication or a term of 120 years from the year of its creation, whichever expires first."
  • "For works first published prior to 1978, the term will vary depending on several factors.
    To determine the length of copyright protection for a particular work, consult chapter 3 of the Copyright Act (title 17 of the United States Code). More information on the term of copyright can be found in Circular 15a, Duration of Copyright, and Circular 1, Copyright Basics.""

(https://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-duration.html)

A creative commons license is a grant of permission from the author to the public (or a segment of the public) to use portions of work otherwise protected by copyright without first obtaining permission from the author (within certain established guidelines).

What are the types of licenses?

Images

Video Content

These are basic guidelines and do not represent legal advise.
Please seek legal counsel for questions related to copyright and fair use.

This guide was adapted from the Copyright Reference Guide (Illinois Library). Except where otherwise indicated, original content in this guide is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0 license. You are free to share, adopt, or adapt the materials.