Public Domain Status

literary ยท first published 1815

Emma (1815), Jane Austen

English-language written work with a publication date of 1815 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 1911-01-01 (1 January 1911), under us-published-maximum-term-expired.

United Kingdom: Public domain since 1888-01-01 (1 January 1888), under uk-life-70.

European Union: Public domain since 1888-01-01 (1 January 1888), under eu-life-70.

Canada: Public domain since 1868-01-01 (1 January 1868), under ca-non-revival-life-50.

Australia: Public domain since 1868-01-01 (1 January 1868), under au-non-revival-life-50.

Japan: Public domain since 1868-01-01 (1 January 1868), under jp-non-revival-life-50.

JurisdictionStatusPublic domain dateConfidence
United StatesPublic domain1911-01-01derived
United KingdomPublic domain1888-01-01derived
European UnionPublic domain1888-01-01derived
CanadaPublic domain1868-01-01derived
AustraliaPublic domain1868-01-01derived
JapanPublic domain1868-01-01derived

Rule trace

How we got there

United Statesus-published-maximum-term-expired
  1. The work was first published in 1815.
  2. Even if every available extension or restoration applied, the maximum 95-year publication term has ended.
  3. The public domain date is 1911-01-01 (1 January 1911).

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

United Kingdomuk-life-70
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1817.
  2. The life plus 70-year term gives 1888-01-01 (1 January 1888).

Source: UK Intellectual Property Office, duration of copyright

European Unioneu-life-70
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1817.
  2. The life plus 70-year term gives 1888-01-01 (1 January 1888).

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

Canadaca-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1817.
  2. The work had already entered the public domain before the 2022 term extension and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 1868-01-01 (1 January 1868).

Source: Government of Canada, Copyright Act

Australiaau-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1817.
  2. The work was already out of copyright when the term changed in 2005 and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 1868-01-01 (1 January 1868).

Source: National Library of Australia, copyright duration

Japanjp-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1817.
  2. The former term had expired before the 2018 extension and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 1868-01-01 (1 January 1868).

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