Public Domain Status

film ยท first published 1928

Steamboat Willie (1928), Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks

The 1928 animated short. Only the expression present in that film is covered by this record.

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 2024-01-01 (1 January 2024), under us-published-maximum-term-expired.

United Kingdom: In copyright. The calculated public-domain date is 2042-01-01 (1 January 2042), in 15 years and 3 months, under uk-film-last-author-70.

European Union: In copyright. The calculated public-domain date is 2042-01-01 (1 January 2042), in 15 years and 3 months, under eu-film-last-author-70.

Canada: Public domain since 2022-01-01 (1 January 2022), under ca-non-revival-life-50.

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

Japan: Public domain since 1999-01-01 (1 January 1999), under jp-film-publication-70.

JurisdictionStatusPublic domain dateConfidence
United StatesPublic domain2024-01-01derived
United KingdomIn copyright2042-01-01low
European UnionIn copyright2042-01-01low
CanadaPublic domain2022-01-01derived
AustraliaUnknownNot enough informationlow
JapanPublic domain1999-01-01derived

Rule trace

How we got there

United Statesus-published-maximum-term-expired
  1. The work was first published in 1928.
  2. Even if every available extension or restoration applied, the maximum 95-year publication term has ended.
  3. The public domain date is 2024-01-01 (1 January 2024).

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

United Kingdomuk-film-last-author-70
  1. The last recorded relevant film author died in 1971.
  2. The film term gives 2042-01-01 (1 January 2042).

Source: UK Intellectual Property Office, duration of copyright

European Unioneu-film-last-author-70
  1. The last recorded relevant film author died in 1971.
  2. The film term gives 2042-01-01 (1 January 2042).

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

Canadaca-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1971.
  2. The work had already entered the public domain before the 2022 term extension and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 2022-01-01 (1 January 2022).

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 1928.
  2. The 70-year term gives 1999-01-01 (1 January 1999).

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