Public Domain Status

sound recording ยท first published 1924

Rhapsody in Blue, Whiteman recording (1924), Paul Whiteman and George Gershwin

The Victor acoustic recording made after the premiere, treated separately from the composition.

Public domain in the United States

Direct answer

Status by jurisdiction

United States: Public domain since 2025-01-01 (1 January 2025), under us-recording-1923-1946.

United Kingdom: Public domain since 1975-01-01 (1 January 1975), under uk-recording-pre-extension-50.

European Union: Public domain since 1975-01-01 (1 January 1975), under eu-recording-pre-extension-50.

Canada: Public domain since 1975-01-01 (1 January 1975), under ca-recording-pre-2016-non-revival.

Australia: Public domain since 1975-01-01 (1 January 1975), under au-recording-pre-1955.

Japan: Public domain since 1975-01-01 (1 January 1975), under jp-recording-non-revival-50.

JurisdictionStatusPublic domain dateConfidence
United StatesPublic domain2025-01-01derived
United KingdomPublic domain1975-01-01derived
European UnionPublic domain1975-01-01derived
CanadaPublic domain1975-01-01derived
AustraliaPublic domain1975-01-01derived
JapanPublic domain1975-01-01derived

Rule trace

How we got there

United Statesus-recording-1923-1946
  1. The recording was first published in 1924.
  2. The federal protection schedule gives this recording a release date of 2025-01-01 (1 January 2025).
  3. The recording has its own term and does not inherit the status of the underlying composition.

Source: U.S. Copyright Office, Music Modernization Act FAQ

United Kingdomuk-recording-pre-extension-50
  1. The recording was released in 1924.
  2. Its former 50-year term expired before the extension could preserve it.
  3. The public domain date is 1975-01-01 (1 January 1975).

Source: Copyright and Duration of Rights in Performances Regulations 2013

European Unioneu-recording-pre-extension-50
  1. The recording was released in 1924.
  2. Its former 50-year term expired before the extension could preserve it.
  3. The public domain date is 1975-01-01 (1 January 1975).

Source: EUR-Lex, Directive 2011/77/EU

Canadaca-recording-pre-2016-non-revival
  1. The recording was published in 1924.
  2. Its former 50-year publication term expired before the 2016 extension took effect, so copyright was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 1975-01-01 (1 January 1975).

Source: Government of Canada, Copyright Act, section 23

Australiaau-recording-pre-1955
  1. The recording was made in 1924.
  2. The former 50-year term gives 1975-01-01 (1 January 1975).

Source: National Library of Australia, copyright duration

Japanjp-recording-non-revival-50
  1. The phonogram's applicable year is 1924.
  2. Its former 50-year term had expired before the 2018 extension and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 1975-01-01 (1 January 1975).

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.

Separate rights

Related works

Underlying compositionRhapsody in Blue

Evidence

Sources