Library: Copyright Policy at Edgewood College: Public Domain

When Works Pass into the Public Domain

Works published in:	Copyright starts:	Copyright ends:
Created 1-1-78 or after	When work is fixed in tangible medium of expression	Life of author + 70 years (or if work of corporate authorship the shorter of 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation)
Published before 1923	In public domain
Published from 1923-1963	When published with copyright notice [Copyright © by...]	28 years + could be renewed for 47 years, now extended by 20 years for a total renewal of 67 years. If not so renewed, now in public domain
Published from 1964-77	When published with copyright notice [Copyright © by...]	28 years for first term; now automatic extension of 67 years for second term
Created before 1-1-78 but published between then and 12-31-2002	1-1-78, the effective date of the 1976 Act	Life of author + 70 years or 12-31-2047, whichever is greater
Government Publications	In the public domain when authored by a government employees as part of their job	May be copyrighted when incorporated into other material or published with added features by a vendor. Work authored with support of government grants is copyrighted.