Public Domain Status

literary ยท first published 1937

The Hobbit (1937), J. R. R. Tolkien

Novel first published in the United Kingdom in 1937.

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: In copyright. The calculated public-domain date is 2044-01-01 (1 January 2044), in 17 years and 3 months, under uk-life-70.

European Union: In copyright. The calculated public-domain date is 2044-01-01 (1 January 2044), in 17 years and 3 months, under eu-life-70.

Canada: In copyright. The calculated public-domain date is 2044-01-01 (1 January 2044), in 17 years and 3 months, under ca-life-70.

Australia: In copyright. The calculated public-domain date is 2044-01-01 (1 January 2044), in 17 years and 3 months, under au-life-70.

Japan: In copyright. The calculated public-domain date is 2044-01-01 (1 January 2044), in 17 years and 3 months, under jp-life-70.

JurisdictionStatusPublic domain dateConfidence
United StatesProbably in copyrightNot enough informationlow
United KingdomIn copyright2044-01-01derived
European UnionIn copyright2044-01-01derived
CanadaIn copyright2044-01-01derived
AustraliaIn copyright2044-01-01derived
JapanIn copyright2044-01-01derived

Rule trace

How we got there

United Statesus-uraa-review
  1. The work was first published outside the United States in 1937.
  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 1973.
  2. The life plus 70-year term gives 2044-01-01 (1 January 2044).

Source: UK Intellectual Property Office, duration of copyright

European Unioneu-life-70
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1973.
  2. The life plus 70-year term gives 2044-01-01 (1 January 2044).

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

Canadaca-life-70
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1973.
  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 2044-01-01 (1 January 2044).

Source: Government of Canada, Copyright Act

Australiaau-life-70
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1973.
  2. The life plus 70-year term applies.
  3. The public domain date is 2044-01-01 (1 January 2044).

Source: National Library of Australia, copyright duration

Japanjp-life-70
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1973.
  2. The life plus 70-year term applies.
  3. The public domain date is 2044-01-01 (1 January 2044).

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