Public Domain Status

literary ยท first published 1949

Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949), George Orwell

Novel first published in the United Kingdom in 1949. Its status differs sharply by country.

Probably in copyright in the United States
Check before relying on this answer.
  • US: Check the source-country term and URAA restoration status.

Direct answer

Status by jurisdiction

United States: Probably in copyright. A public-domain date cannot be calculated from the recorded facts.

United Kingdom: Public domain since 2021-01-01 (1 January 2021), under uk-life-70.

European Union: Public domain since 2021-01-01 (1 January 2021), under eu-life-70.

Canada: Public domain since 2001-01-01 (1 January 2001), under ca-non-revival-life-50.

Australia: Public domain since 2001-01-01 (1 January 2001), under au-non-revival-life-50.

Japan: Public domain since 2001-01-01 (1 January 2001), under jp-non-revival-life-50.

JurisdictionStatusPublic domain dateConfidence
United StatesProbably in copyrightNot enough informationlow
United KingdomPublic domain2021-01-01derived
European UnionPublic domain2021-01-01derived
CanadaPublic domain2001-01-01derived
AustraliaPublic domain2001-01-01derived
JapanPublic domain2001-01-01derived

Rule trace

How we got there

United Statesus-uraa-review
  1. The work was first published outside the United States in 1949.
  2. A restored foreign copyright check is required before a public domain conclusion can be made.

Source: U.S. Copyright Office, URAA restoration

United Kingdomuk-life-70
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1950.
  2. The life plus 70-year term gives 2021-01-01 (1 January 2021).

Source: UK Intellectual Property Office, duration of copyright

European Unioneu-life-70
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1950.
  2. The life plus 70-year term gives 2021-01-01 (1 January 2021).

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

Canadaca-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1950.
  2. The work had already entered the public domain before the 2022 term extension and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 2001-01-01 (1 January 2001).

Source: Government of Canada, Copyright Act

Australiaau-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1950.
  2. The work was already out of copyright when the term changed in 2005 and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 2001-01-01 (1 January 2001).

Source: National Library of Australia, copyright duration

Japanjp-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1950.
  2. The former term had expired before the 2018 extension and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 2001-01-01 (1 January 2001).

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