How to Check if a Film is Public Domain
A film that is public domain is no longer, or never was, protected by copyright and may be legally reused, recreated, or otherwise copied without the need to request permission and without any risk of plagiarism. But when does a film become public domain? Establishing how to check if a film is public domain is an important step. It’s a step to take prior to recreating or remaking any previously protected content. Because recreating works that are not public domain, or which are still protected by copyright, could have serious legal implications.
If you’re wondering when does a film become public domain, start by asking yourself the following questions:
- When was the film created?
- When was the film first published?
- Is the film a work made for hire?
These questions will help you to define the duration of copyright protection. It could potentially be in effect for a film that you’re inquiring about. While also equally providing details as to whether the film may in fact be public domain.
Searching for Films in Public Domain
There are many ways of figuring out how to check if a film is public domain. Films can become public domain due to a copyright not being registered or renewed properly, which means some classic films, cartoons, and T.V. shows from the past are public domain.
There is no single, surefire method of determining whether a film is in public domain. But there are some steps you can take towards researching whether a film, or its parts, are public domain for example consider the following lists:
- Project Gutenberg List of Public Domain Films
- Library of Congress Moving Image Research Center List
- Infodigi Public Domain Resource List
- OpenFlix Public Domain Movies & Films
Any of the above sites can be used to search for and check if a film is public domain. But don’t stop at a simple internet search. Something as important and legally binding as copyright laws and determining whether a film is public domain should really be discussed with an attorney.
You might think it’s safe to assume that if a film was published more than 95 years ago that it is public domain. Or that if a film was created more than 120 years ago it should be public domain. But assumptions like this can get you into legal trouble.
Team Beverly Boy’s Message
A public domain film may offer a lot of potentially useful content that is not protected by copyright.
When Beverly Boy Productions is asked “When does a film become public domain?” Well, we encourage people to not only check internet resources but to ask others about the copyright, or creators of a film.
But also to consult with an attorney before you take any potential steps toward recreating or otherwise using potentially copyrighted film material for your own commercial use.
