Cornell University maintains and updates a chart to help determine what items might be in the public domain based on date, format, and other considerations.
One of the easiest ways to transfer a work to the public domain is through the use of a CC0 or "CC Zero" license, available through Creative Commons.
Always credit the author of a work, where known. Creative Commons has identified best practices and guidelines for crediting/attributing works in the public domain.
The public domain includes all works not subject to copyright laws. Because this includes copyrighted material for which the protection term has expired, works in the public domain are constantly growing. In 2024, works published in the United States prior to 1929 are in the public domain. Users can do almost anything with works in the public domain. Work can be copied, reused, adapted, and distributed.
There are four basic ways a work can enter the public domain:
While there are not typically use restrictions on work in the public domain, there may be other considerations. IIf a work in the public domain has cultural, sacred, or ritual relevance to a population, it may be subject to specific ethical considerations. For example, sharing items with indigenous heritage requires careful consideration of tribal customs and views on privacy.
For help navigating this process, communicate with the cultural group that created the work you are interested in sharing/using or consult and/or use one of the below resources.
In addition, there may be other ethical considerations, such as:
Many sites host works in the public domain, including:
In Ohio, the following sites also host many works in the public domain:
At Oberlin College, we host works in the public domain on Digital Commons, the Internet Archive, and ContentDM.
Content derived from: The Public Domain by Creative Commons. CC BY 4.0 and Copyright Services: Copyright Term and the Public Domain by Cornell University Library. CC BY 4.0.