Public Domain Checker (US Copyright Term)
Check whether a book, song, film, photo or artwork is in the US public domain — or when it will be — using publication date, author's death, notice and renewal rules, including works published before 1931.
For general information only — not legal advice. Laws vary by location; consult a qualified lawyer.
How to use
- 1Say whether and when the work was published.
- 2Enter the author's year of death (for individual authors), and notice/renewal details for older works.
- 3See whether it's public domain in the US now, or the year it will be.
How it's calculated
Published before 1931: public domain. 1931–1963: public domain unless the copyright was renewed (then 95 years). 1964–1977: 95 years. 1978+: life + 70 years (individual authors), or 95 years from publication for works for hire and anonymous works. Unpublished: life + 70.
Frequently asked questions
What entered the public domain in 2026?
Works published in the US in 1930 — for example the first Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys-era books of that year, early Betty Boop and Pluto appearances, and 1930 films and songs. Sound recordings follow a separate schedule (recordings from 1925 entered in 2026).
Is it public domain everywhere?
No. Most other countries use life + 70 years regardless of publication date, so a 1930 work by an author who died in 1970 is still protected in the EU and UK.
Can I use a public domain work freely?
Yes, but new additions (translations, restorations, new arrangements, cover art) may have their own copyright, and trademarks can still apply to characters and titles.