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?