Public Domain Status

other ยท first published 1925

Otello (1925), William Shakespeare

Work with a publication date of 1925 and creator life dates recorded in Wikidata.

Public domain in the United States

Direct answer

Status by jurisdiction

United States: Public domain since 2021-01-01 (1 January 2021), under us-published-maximum-term-expired.

United Kingdom: Public domain since 1687-01-01 (1 January 1687), under uk-life-70.

European Union: Public domain since 1687-01-01 (1 January 1687), under eu-life-70.

Canada: Public domain since 1667-01-01 (1 January 1667), under ca-non-revival-life-50.

Australia: Public domain since 1667-01-01 (1 January 1667), under au-non-revival-life-50.

Japan: Public domain since 1667-01-01 (1 January 1667), under jp-non-revival-life-50.

JurisdictionStatusPublic domain dateConfidence
United StatesPublic domain2021-01-01derived
United KingdomPublic domain1687-01-01derived
European UnionPublic domain1687-01-01derived
CanadaPublic domain1667-01-01derived
AustraliaPublic domain1667-01-01derived
JapanPublic domain1667-01-01derived

Rule trace

How we got there

United Statesus-published-maximum-term-expired
  1. The work was first published in 1925.
  2. Even if every available extension or restoration applied, the maximum 95-year publication term has ended.
  3. The public domain date is 2021-01-01 (1 January 2021).

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

United Kingdomuk-life-70
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1616.
  2. The life plus 70-year term gives 1687-01-01 (1 January 1687).

Source: UK Intellectual Property Office, duration of copyright

European Unioneu-life-70
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1616.
  2. The life plus 70-year term gives 1687-01-01 (1 January 1687).

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

Canadaca-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1616.
  2. The work had already entered the public domain before the 2022 term extension and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 1667-01-01 (1 January 1667).

Source: Government of Canada, Copyright Act

Australiaau-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1616.
  2. The work was already out of copyright when the term changed in 2005 and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 1667-01-01 (1 January 1667).

Source: National Library of Australia, copyright duration

Japanjp-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1616.
  2. The former term had expired before the 2018 extension and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 1667-01-01 (1 January 1667).

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