Public Domain Status

Discussions focus on whether specific works, characters, or media have entered the public domain, copyright expiration rules particularly in the US, and challenges in dedicating works to the public domain.

📉 Falling 0.4x Legal
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Keywords

ISC AFAIK MIT US duke.edu e.g DC domain.html publicdomainday.org gulawweekly.org public domain domain public copyright copyrights dmca 93 enter works rights

Sample Comments

tacocataco Dec 9, 2023 View on HN

Why can't it enter the public domain by default? Like how copyright used to work for media.

craftyguy Oct 18, 2018 View on HN

Isn't this public domain by now?

moralestapia Mar 27, 2024 View on HN

Is he not in the public domain already?

eru Feb 13, 2011 View on HN

The public domain shouldn't matter. Publication could.

immibis Oct 18, 2024 View on HN

Being in the public domain doesn't mean someone has to give you a copy.

jsjenkins168 Jul 28, 2007 View on HN

No. Not if it's public domain like you suggest.

bodas Sep 27, 2018 View on HN

Copyright doesn't turn public domain if you don't exercise your rights. A work only becomes public domain if the copyright period lapses or (in some countries) if they make an explicit declaration to that effect.

mwcremer Sep 3, 2015 View on HN

Wow, is this in the public domain now?

onecommentman Dec 5, 2020 View on HN

Is this in the public domain at this point?

otterley Dec 10, 2024 View on HN

What's wrong with public domain?