Public Domain Status

film ยท first published 1927

Metropolis (1927), Fritz Lang and Thea von Harbou

The German film. Restored footage, scores and particular editions may carry separate rights.

Public domain in the United States
Check before relying on this answer.
  • UK: The record does not identify the director, screenplay author, dialogue author and specially commissioned composer separately.
  • EU: The record does not identify the director, screenplay author, dialogue author and specially commissioned composer separately.
  • AU: Australian films made before 1969 require a title-level transitional-rule review.

Direct answer

Status by jurisdiction

United States: Public domain since 2023-01-01 (1 January 2023), under us-published-maximum-term-expired.

United Kingdom: In copyright. The calculated public-domain date is 2053-01-01 (1 January 2053), in 26 years and 3 months, under uk-film-last-author-70.

European Union: In copyright. The calculated public-domain date is 2053-01-01 (1 January 2053), in 26 years and 3 months, under eu-film-last-author-70.

Canada: In copyright. The calculated public-domain date is 2053-01-01 (1 January 2053), in 26 years and 3 months, under ca-life-70.

Australia: Unknown. A public-domain date cannot be calculated from the recorded facts.

Japan: Public domain since 1998-01-01 (1 January 1998), under jp-film-publication-70.

JurisdictionStatusPublic domain dateConfidence
United StatesPublic domain2023-01-01derived
United KingdomIn copyright2053-01-01low
European UnionIn copyright2053-01-01low
CanadaIn copyright2053-01-01derived
AustraliaUnknownNot enough informationlow
JapanPublic domain1998-01-01derived

Rule trace

How we got there

United Statesus-published-maximum-term-expired
  1. The work was first published in 1927.
  2. Even if every available extension or restoration applied, the maximum 95-year publication term has ended.
  3. The public domain date is 2023-01-01 (1 January 2023).

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

United Kingdomuk-film-last-author-70
  1. The last recorded relevant film author died in 1982.
  2. The film term gives 2053-01-01 (1 January 2053).

Source: UK Intellectual Property Office, duration of copyright

European Unioneu-film-last-author-70
  1. The last recorded relevant film author died in 1982.
  2. The film term gives 2053-01-01 (1 January 2053).

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

Canadaca-life-70
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1982.
  2. The work had not entered the public domain when Canada extended the general term to life plus 70 years.
  3. The public domain date is 2053-01-01 (1 January 2053).

Source: Government of Canada, Copyright Act

Australiaau-film-pre-1969-review
  1. Australian films made before 1969 require a title-level transitional-rule review.

Source: National Library of Australia, copyright duration

Japanjp-film-publication-70
  1. The film's applicable publication or creation year is 1927.
  2. The 70-year term gives 1998-01-01 (1 January 1998).

Source: Japan Agency for Cultural Affairs, copyright system

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