What is Public Domain
The public domain consists of all works that never had copyright protection and works that no longer have copyright protection. The public domain also includes most works created by the United States government. All works in the public domain are free for the public to use.
Works published in the United States prior to 1923 are in the public domain.
How to find out when a U.S. work enters the public domain
- When U.S. Works Enter the Public DomainCopyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States from Cornell University