Public Domain Status

literary ยท first published 1844

The Pencil of Nature (1844), William Henry Fox Talbot

English-language written work with a publication date of 1844 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 1940-01-01 (1 January 1940), under us-published-maximum-term-expired.

United Kingdom: Public domain since 1948-01-01 (1 January 1948), under uk-life-70.

European Union: Public domain since 1948-01-01 (1 January 1948), under eu-life-70.

Canada: Public domain since 1928-01-01 (1 January 1928), under ca-non-revival-life-50.

Australia: Public domain since 1928-01-01 (1 January 1928), under au-non-revival-life-50.

Japan: Public domain since 1928-01-01 (1 January 1928), under jp-non-revival-life-50.

JurisdictionStatusPublic domain dateConfidence
United StatesPublic domain1940-01-01derived
United KingdomPublic domain1948-01-01derived
European UnionPublic domain1948-01-01derived
CanadaPublic domain1928-01-01derived
AustraliaPublic domain1928-01-01derived
JapanPublic domain1928-01-01derived

Rule trace

How we got there

United Statesus-published-maximum-term-expired
  1. The work was first published in 1844.
  2. Even if every available extension or restoration applied, the maximum 95-year publication term has ended.
  3. The public domain date is 1940-01-01 (1 January 1940).

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

United Kingdomuk-life-70
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1877.
  2. The life plus 70-year term gives 1948-01-01 (1 January 1948).

Source: UK Intellectual Property Office, duration of copyright

European Unioneu-life-70
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1877.
  2. The life plus 70-year term gives 1948-01-01 (1 January 1948).

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

Canadaca-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1877.
  2. The work had already entered the public domain before the 2022 term extension and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 1928-01-01 (1 January 1928).

Source: Government of Canada, Copyright Act

Australiaau-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1877.
  2. The work was already out of copyright when the term changed in 2005 and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 1928-01-01 (1 January 1928).

Source: National Library of Australia, copyright duration

Japanjp-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1877.
  2. The former term had expired before the 2018 extension and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 1928-01-01 (1 January 1928).

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