The Basics
Why now?
January 1, 2019, all work published in the United States in 1923 entered the public domain. This was the first time work has entered the public domain in twenty years due to copyright extensions.
What is the public domain?
The public domain includes any work for which copyright has expired or work that has been specifically donated into the public domain by the author/creator. Note that the types of work that could have been copyrighted include: musical scores, musical recordings, writings, movies, artwork, sculptures, graphical works, maps, computer software, architectural plans, etc.
Why the public domain?
Public domain works are special because you can remix them, sell them or do anything you like with them without first asking for permission from the author/creator (or the current copyright owner). This may inspire creativity, such as remixing!
Everything is a Remix Remastered
Remixing Works in the Public Domain
Creativity is a Remix
Where can I find work that has entered the public domain?
Where can I find work that has entered the public domain?
Because any work published in the US before 1924 is part of the public domain, these works can be found in many places, including your library. There are some places you might wish to go to search for PD works, however.
Good starting places include:
Other places to look:
- Openverse (Creative Commons Works)Search creative commons works on Openverse, formerly Creative Commons Search.
- The Digital Public Library of AmericaLook for works marked as part of the public domain
- Internet ArchiveProvides access to videos, images, sounds, and more from all over the web. Not everything is Creative Commons but much is free to use under a variety of licenses
- Smithsonian Collections OnlineA collection of books from both world's fairs and state fairs during the period 1834-1918, digitized from a 174 reel microfilm set; records from the Smithsonian Institution and the United States National Museum documenting their roles in world's fairs and international expositions during the period 1867-1940; world's fair memorabilia from the period 1851-1940; publications by and about world's fairs during the period 1843-1922; agricultural trade literature from the period 1820-1926; and trade catalogs and miscellaneous trade literature from the period 1850-1926.
- IMSLP / Petrucci Music LibrarySearch for music scores in the public domain
- Free Music ArchiveSearch for musical recordings in the public domain
- NASA Image GalleryWhat is in the collection: Search NASA's various galleries for photos, videos, and other media.
Usage information: Most images are not under copyright and are free to use for noncommercial purposes. However, you must attribute NASA as the source material. See also the NASA media usage guidelines. - UnsplashStock images in the public domain
