Public Domain Status

literary · first published 1943

The Little Prince (1943), Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

First published in the United States in French and English. Translation and illustration rights can differ.

In copyright in the United States

Direct answer

Status by jurisdiction

United States: In copyright. The calculated public-domain date is 2039-01-01 (1 January 2039), in 12 years and 3 months, under us-published-95-years.

United Kingdom: Public domain since 2015-01-01 (1 January 2015), under uk-life-70.

European Union: Public domain since 2015-01-01 (1 January 2015), under eu-life-70.

Canada: Public domain since 1995-01-01 (1 January 1995), under ca-non-revival-life-50.

Australia: Public domain since 1995-01-01 (1 January 1995), under au-non-revival-life-50.

Japan: Public domain since 1995-01-01 (1 January 1995), under jp-non-revival-life-50.

JurisdictionStatusPublic domain dateConfidence
United StatesIn copyright2039-01-01derived
United KingdomPublic domain2015-01-01derived
European UnionPublic domain2015-01-01derived
CanadaPublic domain1995-01-01derived
AustraliaPublic domain1995-01-01derived
JapanPublic domain1995-01-01derived

Rule trace

How we got there

United Statesus-published-95-years
  1. The work was first published in 1943.
  2. The applicable maximum term is 95 years through the end of the calendar year.
  3. The public domain date is 2039-01-01 (1 January 2039).

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

United Kingdomuk-life-70
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1944.
  2. The life plus 70-year term gives 2015-01-01 (1 January 2015).

Source: UK Intellectual Property Office, duration of copyright

European Unioneu-life-70
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1944.
  2. The life plus 70-year term gives 2015-01-01 (1 January 2015).

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

Canadaca-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1944.
  2. The work had already entered the public domain before the 2022 term extension and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 1995-01-01 (1 January 1995).

Source: Government of Canada, Copyright Act

Australiaau-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1944.
  2. The work was already out of copyright when the term changed in 2005 and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 1995-01-01 (1 January 1995).

Source: National Library of Australia, copyright duration

Japanjp-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1944.
  2. The former term had expired before the 2018 extension and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 1995-01-01 (1 January 1995).

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