What is the public domain?
For works created after January 1, 1978, copyright protection generally begins at the moment of creation and lasts 70 years after the death of the author. After this time, the work loses protection and falls into the public domain. Certain works that were created but not published or registered with the copyright office before January 1, 1978 lose protection 50 years after the author’s death.
In copyright, the realm of works that are not protected either because their term of protection has expired, or because they were released by the creator without intention of claiming copyright, is known as the public domain. Works in the public domain can be appropriated by anyone without liability for infringement.
