Public Domain Status

literary ยท first published 1851

The Swiss Family Robinson (1851), Johann David Wyss

English-language written work with a publication date of 1851 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 1947-01-01 (1 January 1947), under us-published-maximum-term-expired.

United Kingdom: Public domain since 1889-01-01 (1 January 1889), under uk-life-70.

European Union: Public domain since 1889-01-01 (1 January 1889), under eu-life-70.

Canada: Public domain since 1869-01-01 (1 January 1869), under ca-non-revival-life-50.

Australia: Public domain since 1869-01-01 (1 January 1869), under au-non-revival-life-50.

Japan: Public domain since 1869-01-01 (1 January 1869), under jp-non-revival-life-50.

JurisdictionStatusPublic domain dateConfidence
United StatesPublic domain1947-01-01derived
United KingdomPublic domain1889-01-01derived
European UnionPublic domain1889-01-01derived
CanadaPublic domain1869-01-01derived
AustraliaPublic domain1869-01-01derived
JapanPublic domain1869-01-01derived

Rule trace

How we got there

United Statesus-published-maximum-term-expired
  1. The work was first published in 1851.
  2. Even if every available extension or restoration applied, the maximum 95-year publication term has ended.
  3. The public domain date is 1947-01-01 (1 January 1947).

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

United Kingdomuk-life-70
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1818.
  2. The life plus 70-year term gives 1889-01-01 (1 January 1889).

Source: UK Intellectual Property Office, duration of copyright

European Unioneu-life-70
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1818.
  2. The life plus 70-year term gives 1889-01-01 (1 January 1889).

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

Canadaca-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1818.
  2. The work had already entered the public domain before the 2022 term extension and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 1869-01-01 (1 January 1869).

Source: Government of Canada, Copyright Act

Australiaau-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1818.
  2. The work was already out of copyright when the term changed in 2005 and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 1869-01-01 (1 January 1869).

Source: National Library of Australia, copyright duration

Japanjp-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1818.
  2. The former term had expired before the 2018 extension and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 1869-01-01 (1 January 1869).

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