Public Domain Status

literary ยท first published 1895

A House-Boat on the Styx (1895), John Kendrick Bangs

English-language written work with a publication date of 1895 in Wikidata and a linked Project Gutenberg catalogue record.

Public domain in the United States

Direct answer

Status by jurisdiction

United States: Public domain since 1991-01-01 (1 January 1991), under us-published-maximum-term-expired.

United Kingdom: Public domain since 1993-01-01 (1 January 1993), under uk-life-70.

European Union: Public domain since 1993-01-01 (1 January 1993), under eu-life-70.

Canada: Public domain since 1973-01-01 (1 January 1973), under ca-non-revival-life-50.

Australia: Public domain since 1973-01-01 (1 January 1973), under au-non-revival-life-50.

Japan: Public domain since 1973-01-01 (1 January 1973), under jp-non-revival-life-50.

JurisdictionStatusPublic domain dateConfidence
United StatesPublic domain1991-01-01derived
United KingdomPublic domain1993-01-01derived
European UnionPublic domain1993-01-01derived
CanadaPublic domain1973-01-01derived
AustraliaPublic domain1973-01-01derived
JapanPublic domain1973-01-01derived

Rule trace

How we got there

United Statesus-published-maximum-term-expired
  1. The work was first published in 1895.
  2. Even if every available extension or restoration applied, the maximum 95-year publication term has ended.
  3. The public domain date is 1991-01-01 (1 January 1991).

Source: U.S. Copyright Office, Duration of Copyright

United Kingdomuk-life-70
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1922.
  2. The life plus 70-year term gives 1993-01-01 (1 January 1993).

Source: UK Intellectual Property Office, duration of copyright

European Unioneu-life-70
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1922.
  2. The life plus 70-year term gives 1993-01-01 (1 January 1993).

Source: EUR-Lex, Directive 2006/116/EC

Canadaca-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1922.
  2. The work had already entered the public domain before the 2022 term extension and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 1973-01-01 (1 January 1973).

Source: Government of Canada, Copyright Act

Australiaau-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1922.
  2. The work was already out of copyright when the term changed in 2005 and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 1973-01-01 (1 January 1973).

Source: National Library of Australia, copyright duration

Japanjp-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1922.
  2. The former term had expired before the 2018 extension and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 1973-01-01 (1 January 1973).

Source: Japan Agency for Cultural Affairs, term extension questions

Practical scope

What this result does and does not cover

  • A public domain result supports reuse of the original expression covered by this record in the named jurisdiction.
  • Check translations, editions, arrangements, performances, recordings, restorations, artwork and adaptations separately.
  • Trademark, moral rights, privacy, publicity, contract and cultural heritage rules can still apply.

Evidence

Sources