Public Domain Status

literary ยท first published 1791

The Life of Samuel Johnson (1791), James Boswell

English-language written work with a publication date of 1791 in Wikidata and a linked Project Gutenberg catalogue record.

Public domain in the United States

Direct answer

Status by jurisdiction

United States: Public domain since 1887-01-01 (1 January 1887), under us-published-maximum-term-expired.

United Kingdom: Public domain since 1866-01-01 (1 January 1866), under uk-life-70.

European Union: Public domain since 1866-01-01 (1 January 1866), under eu-life-70.

Canada: Public domain since 1846-01-01 (1 January 1846), under ca-non-revival-life-50.

Australia: Public domain since 1846-01-01 (1 January 1846), under au-non-revival-life-50.

Japan: Public domain since 1846-01-01 (1 January 1846), under jp-non-revival-life-50.

JurisdictionStatusPublic domain dateConfidence
United StatesPublic domain1887-01-01derived
United KingdomPublic domain1866-01-01derived
European UnionPublic domain1866-01-01derived
CanadaPublic domain1846-01-01derived
AustraliaPublic domain1846-01-01derived
JapanPublic domain1846-01-01derived

Rule trace

How we got there

United Statesus-published-maximum-term-expired
  1. The work was first published in 1791.
  2. Even if every available extension or restoration applied, the maximum 95-year publication term has ended.
  3. The public domain date is 1887-01-01 (1 January 1887).

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

United Kingdomuk-life-70
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1795.
  2. The life plus 70-year term gives 1866-01-01 (1 January 1866).

Source: UK Intellectual Property Office, duration of copyright

European Unioneu-life-70
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1795.
  2. The life plus 70-year term gives 1866-01-01 (1 January 1866).

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

Canadaca-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1795.
  2. The work had already entered the public domain before the 2022 term extension and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 1846-01-01 (1 January 1846).

Source: Government of Canada, Copyright Act

Australiaau-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1795.
  2. The work was already out of copyright when the term changed in 2005 and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 1846-01-01 (1 January 1846).

Source: National Library of Australia, copyright duration

Japanjp-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1795.
  2. The former term had expired before the 2018 extension and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 1846-01-01 (1 January 1846).

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