Public Domain Q&A

How can I use What influences

Public Domain What is when a work is in
works in teaching Public the Public Domain?
and research? Date of its
Images (show
Domain? crea on.
related content) Type of work
Crea ve materials or works that are not
Course materials (sound, image,
(readings, texts,
protected by intellectual property laws etc.)
sound, or media) such as copyright, trademark, or patent Origin of work
Exercises or (Stanford University, 2022). defines its copy‐
assignments right protec ons,
In plain language: which may differ
Research from country to
(integrate into your Works owned by no one! country.
work)

Crea ve works What are some

(make deriva ve Do Public Domain works have a label? best practices for
works)
Legally enforceable or government‐ using Public
Why do works enter approved labels or iden fiers do not exist, Domain works?
the Public Domain? but the following logos can iden fy Public  Understand and apply
 Its copyright expired. basic copyright principles.
Domain works:
 Copyright was lost,  Treat every work like it
never a ained, or not has copyright protec on
renewed. un l proven that it doesn’t.

 The copyright owner No Rights Reserved Public Domain Mark  Confirm if a work has
dedicated their work into (CC0) is when a (PDM) is added to Public Domain status, and
the Public Domain. old works known to save its record.
creator waives his or
 The work did not qualify her copyright to their be copyright‐free.  A ribute the work.
for a copyright. work.

Where can I learn more about Public Domain?

Cornell University Library (2022). Copyright term and the public domain in the United States. h ps://
guides.library.cornell.edu/copyright/publicdomain
Fishman, S. (2017). The public domain: Find and use free content for your website, book, app, music,
video, art, and more (8th Ed.). Nolo.
Florida Atlan c University Libraries (2022). Scholarly Communica on Services: Copyright and public do-
main [Research Guide]. h ps://libguides.fau.edu/copyright/public‐domain By Kristy Padrón, MLIS
Stanford University Libraries (2022). Copyright & fair use: Welcome to the public domain. h ps:// kpadron@fau.edu
fairuse.stanford.edu/overview/public‐domain/welcome/ 5/2022