e N O LSt orOy Dear friends, Since 1971, Nolo has worked hard to help Americans get a fair shake from the legal system. How? By producing books, software, forms and a website that translate legal jargon into plain English, off er clear instructions for routine tasks and break down complex systems into easy-to-understand components. All of our publications are relentlessly researched and tested by a dedicated group of in-house legal editors. And when we come out with a new edition, you’ll know that it’s been thoroughly updated. ere’s a reason why Nolo is not only the nation’s oldest, but also the most respected provider of legal information. Our mission, refl ected in everything we publish, is to give consumers and small businesses the best information available. We’re proud that tens of millions of Americans have looked to Nolo to help them solve their problems and achieve their goals. Ralph Warner, Nolo co-founder N O LYou r LegOal Companion OUR MISSION Make the law as simple as “In Nolo you can trust.” —THE NEW YORK TIMES possible, saving you time, money and headaches. Whether you have a simple question or a complex problem, turn to us at: NOLO.COM ALWAYS UP TO DATE Your all-in-one legal resource Sign up for NOLO’S Need quick information about wills, patents, LEGAL UPDATER adoptions, starting a business—or anything else Old law is bad law. We’ll that’s affe cted by the law? Nolo.com is packed email you when we publish with free articles, legal updates, resources and a an updated edition of this complete catalog of our books and software. book—sign up for this free service at nolo.com/ NOLO NOW legalupdater. Make your legal documents online Find the latest updates Creating a legal document has never been easier at NOLO.COM or more cost-eff ective! Featuring Nolo’s Online Recognizing that the law Will, as well as online forms for LLC formation, can change even before you incorporation, divorce, name change—and many use this book, we post legal more! Check it out at http://nolonow.nolo.com. updates during the life of this edition at nolo.com/updates. NOLO’S LAWYER DIRECTORY Meet your new attorney Is this edition the newest? ASK US! If you want advice from a qualifi ed attorney, turn To make sure that this is the to Nolo’s Lawyer Directory—the only directory most recent available, just that lets you see hundreds of in-depth attorney give us a call at 800-728-3555. profi les so you can pick the one that’s right for you. Find it at http://lawyers.nolo.com. (Please note that we cannot off er legal advice.) Please note We believe accurate, plain-English legal information should help you solve many of your own legal problems. But this text is not a substitute for personalized advice from a knowledgeable lawyer. If you want the help of a trained professional—and we’ll always point out situations in which we think that’s a good idea— consult an attorney licensed to practice in your state. 4th edition The Public Domain How to Find & Use Copyright-Free Writings, Music, Art & More By Attorney Stephen Fishman Fourth Edition MAY 2008 Editor RICHARD STIM Cover Design SUSAN PUTNEY Production MARGARET LIVINGSTON Proofreading ROBERT WELLS Index SONGBIRD INDEXING Printing DELTA PRINTING SOLUTIONS, INC. Fishman, Stephen. Public domain : how to find & use copyright-free writings, music, art & more/ By Stephen Fishman. -- 4th ed. p. cm. ISBN-13: 978-1-4133-0858-7 (pbk.) ISBN-10: 1-4133-0858-9 (pbk.) 1. Public domain (Copyright law)--United States. I. Title. KF3022.Z9F57 2008 346.7304'82--dc22 2007051622 Copyright © 2000, 2004, 2006, and 2008 by Stephen Fishman. ALL RIGHTS ReserveD. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without prior written permission. Reproduction prohibitions do not apply to the forms contained in this product when reproduced for personal use. For information on bulk purchases or corporate premium sales, please contact the Special Sales ­Department. For academic sales or textbook adoptions, ask for Academic Sales. Call 800-955-4775 or write to Nolo, 950 Parker Street, ­Berkeley, CA 94710. Acknowledgments Many thanks to all the folks at Nolo for their outstanding work, including Margaret Livingston, Richard Stim, Bob Wells, and Melody Englund. Thanks also to the following people who generously contributed advice and/or in- formation: • Professor Emmy Werner • Roger A. Sayles • Eric Eldred • Lynn Nagrani and all the other people at the Public Domain Information Project • Joan Liffring-Zug Bourret of Penfield Press. Finally, special thanks to Stanley Jacobsen, without whose indefatigable research assistance this book would never have been completed. Table of Contents Your Legal Companion 1 Introduction to the Public Domain What Is the Public Domain? ..........................................................................4 Dealing With Public Domain Gray Areas ....................................................11 What If Someone Challenges Your Public Domain Claim? ...........................14 Documenting Your Use of Public Domain Materials ....................................15 2 The Use and Abuse of Copyright What Copyright Protects .............................................................................18 The Looting of the Public Domain ...............................................................24 3 Writings What Can You Do With Public Domain Writings? .......................................33 Determining Copyright Status of Written Works ..........................................38 Is the Work Eligible for Copyright Protection? ..............................................41 Has the Work Been Published?....................................................................58 Has the Work’s Copyright Expired? ..............................................................67 Is the Work in the Public Domain Due to Lack of a Copyright Notice? ........67 Does a Copyright Trap Apply? .....................................................................68 Misuse of Copyright Notices .......................................................................80 Sources of Public Domain Writings .............................................................82 4 Music The Difference Between Music and Sound Recordings ................................85 What Can You Do With Public Domain Sheet Music? .................................86 Has the Sheet Music Been Published? .........................................................90 Has the Copyright in the Music Expired? .....................................................96 Is the Music in the Public Domain Due to Lack of a Copyright Notice? .......97 Is It a Derivative Work? ...............................................................................97 Is It an Arrangement or Adaptation? .............................................................99 Is the Music a Collective Work? ................................................................110 Does the Music Have Public Domain Elements? .......................................112 Sources of Public Domain Sheet Music .....................................................114 Sound Recordings .....................................................................................115 5 Art Part I: Original Works of Art ............................................................... 124 What Good Is Public Domain Art? ............................................................124 Deciding If Original Art Is in the Public Domain .......................................126 Has the Art Been Published? .....................................................................126 Has the Copyright in the Art Expired? ........................................................131 Is the Art in the Public Domain Due to Lack of a Copyright Notice? .........131 Is the Artwork Eligible for Copyright Protection? ........................................132 Do You Intend to Use the Art in Advertising or on Merchandise? ...............140 Is the Art Protected by a Design Patent? .....................................................141 Sources of Original Art ..............................................................................142 Part II: Art Reproductions ................................................................... 142 Is the Original Work of Art in the Public Domain? .....................................143 Has the Reproduction Been Published? .....................................................143 Has the Copyright in the Reproduction Expired? .......................................143 Is the Reproduction in the Public Domain Due to Lack of a Copyright Notice? .............................................................................143 Does the Reproduction Lack Originality? ..................................................144 Is the Reproduction Dedicated to the Public Domain? ..............................149 Will You Use the Reproduction in Advertising or on Merchandise? ............150 Are Elements of the Reproduction in the Public Domain? .........................150 Sources of Art Reproductions ....................................................................150 6 Photography What Good Are Public Domain Photographs? ...........................................152 Deciding Whether Photographs Are in the Public Domain ........................152 Sources of Public Domain Photographs .....................................................162 7 Movies and Television