Public Domain Status

other ยท first published 1921

The Path of the King (1921), John Buchan

Work with a publication date of 1921 and creator life dates recorded in Wikidata.

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: Public domain since 2011-01-01 (1 January 2011), under uk-life-70.

European Union: Public domain since 2011-01-01 (1 January 2011), under eu-life-70.

Canada: Public domain since 1991-01-01 (1 January 1991), under ca-non-revival-life-50.

Australia: Public domain since 1991-01-01 (1 January 1991), under au-non-revival-life-50.

Japan: Public domain since 1991-01-01 (1 January 1991), under jp-non-revival-life-50.

JurisdictionStatusPublic domain dateConfidence
United StatesPublic domain2017-01-01derived
United KingdomPublic domain2011-01-01derived
European UnionPublic domain2011-01-01derived
CanadaPublic domain1991-01-01derived
AustraliaPublic domain1991-01-01derived
JapanPublic domain1991-01-01derived

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 1940.
  2. The life plus 70-year term gives 2011-01-01 (1 January 2011).

Source: UK Intellectual Property Office, duration of copyright

European Unioneu-life-70
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1940.
  2. The life plus 70-year term gives 2011-01-01 (1 January 2011).

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

Canadaca-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1940.
  2. The work had already entered the public domain before the 2022 term extension and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 1991-01-01 (1 January 1991).

Source: Government of Canada, Copyright Act

Australiaau-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1940.
  2. The work was already out of copyright when the term changed in 2005 and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 1991-01-01 (1 January 1991).

Source: National Library of Australia, copyright duration

Japanjp-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1940.
  2. The former term had expired before the 2018 extension and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 1991-01-01 (1 January 1991).

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