Copyright & Public Domain Calculator
Enter a year of publication and country to instantly check whether footage, music, or other creative works are in the public domain. Covers US, UK, EU, Canada, and 6 more jurisdictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does footage enter the public domain in the US?
In the US: works published before 1929 are public domain. Works from 1929-1977 may be public domain if copyright was not renewed (renewal was required). Works from 1978+ are protected for the author's life + 70 years (or 95 years from publication for corporate works). Unpublished works have different rules.
Is all footage from the 1920s free to use?
In the US, yes — all published works from before 1929 are in the public domain. However, a specific restoration, scan, or transfer of public domain footage may carry its own copyright. Also, copyright terms vary by country — footage from the 1920s may still be protected in some jurisdictions with longer copyright terms.
How do copyright rules differ between countries?
Copyright terms vary significantly: US uses publication date (pre-1929 = public domain). UK/EU uses author's life + 70 years. Canada uses life + 70 years (changed from life + 50 in 2022). Australia uses life + 70 years. Japan uses life + 70 years. Some countries have special rules for films, photographs, and government works.
What is fair use and does it apply to archival footage?
Fair use (US) allows limited use of copyrighted material for purposes like criticism, commentary, education, and documentary filmmaking. Four factors are considered: purpose of use, nature of the work, amount used, and market impact. Documentary use of brief archival clips with commentary can qualify, but fair use is determined case-by-case — there are no bright-line rules.
Do I need permission to use government footage?
US federal government works are not copyrighted and are in the public domain. This includes footage from NASA, NARA (National Archives), military, and other federal agencies. However, state and local government works may be copyrighted. Foreign government works have varying rules — UK Crown Copyright lasts 50 years from creation.
What is the public domain status of newsreel footage?
Many newsreels from before 1929 are public domain in the US. Newsreels from 1929-1963 may be public domain if their copyrights were not renewed (many were not). Post-1963 newsreels are generally still protected. Some newsreel companies (like Pathé and British Movietone) still actively license their archives.
Can I use old photographs and film stills freely?
The same copyright rules apply to photographs as to footage. Photos published before 1929 are public domain in the US. However, photographs taken of copyrighted works may have multiple layers of rights. Also, personality rights (right of publicity) may restrict commercial use of recognizable individuals regardless of copyright status.
What about music in old footage — is that also public domain?
Music has separate copyright from the footage. A song has two copyrights: the composition (sheet music) and the recording (performance). Pre-1929 compositions are public domain, but a recording of that composition from 1950 is not. Sound recordings made before 1972 have complex state-by-state protection that ended in 2022.
What is Creative Commons and how does it relate to public domain?
Creative Commons licenses are voluntary permissions that copyright holders can apply to their works. CC0 (Public Domain Dedication) effectively places works in the public domain. Other CC licenses (BY, BY-SA, BY-NC) allow use with conditions. CC-licensed footage is not the same as public domain — it comes with specific terms you must follow.
How do I verify if footage is actually in the public domain?
Check the publication date and renewal records. For pre-1929 US works, confirm the publication date through copyright registration records at copyright.gov. For 1929-1963 works, search the Copyright Office renewal records (many are now digitized). For foreign works, check the laws of the relevant country. When in doubt, consult a copyright attorney.