Public Domain Status

literary ยท first published 1921

The Black Moth (1921), Georgette Heyer

Work with a publication date of 1921 and creator life dates recorded in Wikidata. Project Gutenberg independently catalogues this title.

Public domain in the United States

Direct answer

Status by jurisdiction

United States: Public domain since 2017-01-01 (1 January 2017), under us-published-maximum-term-expired.

United Kingdom: In copyright. The calculated public-domain date is 2045-01-01 (1 January 2045), in 18 years and 3 months, under uk-life-70.

European Union: In copyright. The calculated public-domain date is 2045-01-01 (1 January 2045), in 18 years and 3 months, under eu-life-70.

Canada: In copyright. The calculated public-domain date is 2045-01-01 (1 January 2045), in 18 years and 3 months, under ca-life-70.

Australia: In copyright. The calculated public-domain date is 2045-01-01 (1 January 2045), in 18 years and 3 months, under au-life-70.

Japan: In copyright. The calculated public-domain date is 2045-01-01 (1 January 2045), in 18 years and 3 months, under jp-life-70.

JurisdictionStatusPublic domain dateConfidence
United StatesPublic domain2017-01-01derived
United KingdomIn copyright2045-01-01derived
European UnionIn copyright2045-01-01derived
CanadaIn copyright2045-01-01derived
AustraliaIn copyright2045-01-01derived
JapanIn copyright2045-01-01derived

Rule trace

How we got there

United Statesus-published-maximum-term-expired
  1. The work was first published in 1921.
  2. Even if every available extension or restoration applied, the maximum 95-year publication term has ended.
  3. The public domain date is 2017-01-01 (1 January 2017).

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

United Kingdomuk-life-70
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1974.
  2. The life plus 70-year term gives 2045-01-01 (1 January 2045).

Source: UK Intellectual Property Office, duration of copyright

European Unioneu-life-70
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1974.
  2. The life plus 70-year term gives 2045-01-01 (1 January 2045).

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

Canadaca-life-70
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1974.
  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 2045-01-01 (1 January 2045).

Source: Government of Canada, Copyright Act

Australiaau-life-70
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1974.
  2. The life plus 70-year term applies.
  3. The public domain date is 2045-01-01 (1 January 2045).

Source: National Library of Australia, copyright duration

Japanjp-life-70
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1974.
  2. The life plus 70-year term applies.
  3. The public domain date is 2045-01-01 (1 January 2045).

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