Public Domain Status

dramatic ยท first published 1918

Why Marry? (1918), Jesse Lynch Williams

Work with a publication date of 1918 and creator life dates recorded in Wikidata.

Public domain in the United States

Direct answer

Status by jurisdiction

United States: Public domain since 2014-01-01 (1 January 2014), under us-published-maximum-term-expired.

United Kingdom: Public domain since 2000-01-01 (1 January 2000), under uk-life-70.

European Union: Public domain since 2000-01-01 (1 January 2000), under eu-life-70.

Canada: Public domain since 1980-01-01 (1 January 1980), under ca-non-revival-life-50.

Australia: Public domain since 1980-01-01 (1 January 1980), under au-non-revival-life-50.

Japan: Public domain since 1980-01-01 (1 January 1980), under jp-non-revival-life-50.

JurisdictionStatusPublic domain dateConfidence
United StatesPublic domain2014-01-01derived
United KingdomPublic domain2000-01-01derived
European UnionPublic domain2000-01-01derived
CanadaPublic domain1980-01-01derived
AustraliaPublic domain1980-01-01derived
JapanPublic domain1980-01-01derived

Rule trace

How we got there

United Statesus-published-maximum-term-expired
  1. The work was first published in 1918.
  2. Even if every available extension or restoration applied, the maximum 95-year publication term has ended.
  3. The public domain date is 2014-01-01 (1 January 2014).

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

United Kingdomuk-life-70
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1929.
  2. The life plus 70-year term gives 2000-01-01 (1 January 2000).

Source: UK Intellectual Property Office, duration of copyright

European Unioneu-life-70
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1929.
  2. The life plus 70-year term gives 2000-01-01 (1 January 2000).

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

Canadaca-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1929.
  2. The work had already entered the public domain before the 2022 term extension and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 1980-01-01 (1 January 1980).

Source: Government of Canada, Copyright Act

Australiaau-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1929.
  2. The work was already out of copyright when the term changed in 2005 and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 1980-01-01 (1 January 1980).

Source: National Library of Australia, copyright duration

Japanjp-non-revival-life-50
  1. The last relevant creator died in 1929.
  2. The former term had expired before the 2018 extension and was not revived.
  3. The public domain date is 1980-01-01 (1 January 1980).

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