Any work that is not covered by copyright registration is considered to be in the public domain. This includes works created before 1922, created for public use, or those works that have over the years fallen into public domain because the copyright expired. This includes documents of the United States government, unless stated otherwise.
Information and/or resources that are not protected by copyright law and so is free to be used without permission. Many of the graphic images on most Web sites are not in the public domain.
Something that is owned by the public and is free from any legal restriction, such as a copyright or patent.
Public Domain refers to the knowledge that is freely available, commonly shared throughout the world without any access restrictions. In the context of Intellectual Property this term refers to knowledge that is beyond the realm of protection of IP rights.
Software that is not copyrighted and is free to copy and distribute.
n. or adj. the total absence of copyright protection; the piecepack is public domain
free to use, distribute, modify
Software that isn't copyrighted and can be used and copied free of charge.
See public domain software.
the status of publications, products, and processes that are not protected under patent or copyright.
A work (such as music, writings, inventions etc.) that is available for use by anyone. A work is considered public domain when ownership and control of the work (in the form of a copyright or otherwise) is not vested in any one person.
Software that you can use freely, distribute freely, and modify in any way you wish. See also freeware and shareware.
When an artist has been dead more than seventy years, his or her work is in the public domain. Reproduction rights are then concerned with rights held by those who have produced photographs of the works (in other words, if you took a snapshot of a public domain work yourself, you could do anything you want with it). Normally, museums have commissioned photographs of their works and thus hold the rights to these photographs to be used in reproduction. So, a first step here would be to contact the museum where the work is held.
Another term for (see) commons: In terms of representation, something ‘in the public domain' is outside of copyright and therefore available for anyone to use, modify and redistribute.
In copyright law, material that is not protected by copyright and can be used by anyone.
Refers to the status of a work having no copyright protection and, therefore, belonging to the world. When a work is "in" or has "fallen into" public domain, it means it is available for unrestricted use by anyone. Permission and/or payment are not required for its use. Except with respect to certain foreign-originated works eligible for restoration of copyright, once a work falls into the public domain ("PD"), it can never be recaptured by the owner
Putting your software in the public domain makes it shareware, which means anyone can use, alter, or redistribute it. The idea is that people will send you money because they truly value your software, and it seems to be occurring more frequently lately.
works and objects of related rights, the copyright and (or) related rights on which have expired
Any material, work or information that is publicly available and does not have any intellectual property protection, for example, copyright or patents, usually because the intellectual property right has expired or been nullified somehow.
any work that is not copyright protected is considered to be in the "public domain", and includes materials created prior to 1922, works created for public use, government documents unless otherwise specified, and works whose copyright has expired.
information, which is available to anyone and is not subject to copyright.
A work is said to be in the 'public domain' when no copyrights apply to the work. This is a legal term subject to the copyright and intellectual property laws governing a given jurisdiction or country. Back to the top Q-Z Glossary
Material not copyrighted, or for which copyright has expired.
a body of knowledge and innovation (especially creative works like writing , art , music, and invention s) in relation to which there are no individual or even even more legal respire might establish or maintain proprietary interests
Programs or files which are released free of charge with relatively very little restriction for use.
A computer program is in the public domain if it is not covered by any kind of copyright. (7/96)
Made aviable for free to everybody.
A collection of works which are no longer restricted by copyright. In general 50 years after an author has died, his or her work enters the public domain and may be copied and resold without the restrictions imposed by copyright. Use the "Back" button at the top of your screen to return to the previous screen.
Products of the human mind – such as books, inventions, computer programs, songs, movies, and other works – are often owned by the creator as "intellectual property," meaning that the creator may have control over uses of the work such as reproduction. Intellectual property is recognized under copyright, patent, trademark, and other laws. If a work is not legally protected as intellectual property (possibly because its protection has expired), it is said to be in the "public domain." Anyone may reproduce, sell, or otherwise use a public domain work without having to obtain permission.
Uncopyrighted software free to be distributed and used by anyone.
A title that is not copyrighted. This can occur when copyrights aren't renewed (which sometimes happens with older works), or when a copyright isn't properly established in the first place (George Romero's Night Of The Living Dead is probably the most prominent example of this). As a result, anyone can produce, sell, or broadcast copies of public domain material without having to pay royalties or licensing fees.
Works in the public domain may be copied, distributed, or sold without restriction or prior permission.
Free from copyrights or patents, these programs, texts or files may be used by the public without any payments to the creators.
The whole area of the internet where shareware, and freeware programs exist.
The current state of knowledge in any given field. The public domain includes inventions whose patent protection has expired.
Public domain” is not a place, but rather a concept where a work of authorship is no longer under copyright protection or the author “releases” the work to the general public to use without compensation.
when a copyright or a patent does not protect a an artistic or literary work or invention it is said to be in the public domain and can be used by anyone without liability for infringement.
Once copyright has expired in a work it is theoretically in the public domain and available for anyone to use, regardless of copyright. However, practices of restricting access can render the concept impractical, c.f. Sistine Chapel.
a term referring to the status of a work that has no copyright protection. It literally means that the work belongs to everyone and is available for unrestricted access to anyone who wants to use it. Neither permission nor source citation is required for its use, though failure to cite the source could be considered as plagiarism.
Not bearing copyright; any product in public domain can be freely exchanged and copied.
Cover term for all software that can freely be used and disseminated without a fee having to be paid. Also: freeware, shareware.
When a work enters the public domain it no longer falls under copyright rule.
Information or software freely available to the public. Could be freeware, shareware, or donationware.
A copyright term meaning that something does not belong to a private individual or organisation. When someone places their work in the public domain it means that they are giving up their rights to it. Software and information available in the public domain is free.
These are things that are available to the public at no charge because their copyrights, trademarks or patents have expired or somehow, been nullified. This may include information on government sites. This does not include information that is publicly visible on private or commercial websites. Just because it's there, does not mean you may copy it for your own site or publications without permission from the copyright holder.
Works which are no longer owned by anyone because the creator has been dead a certain amount of time and, therefore, the work is no longer protected by copyright law. (Unit 8 Giving Credit Where Credit is Due)
Belonging to the community at large. Unprotected by patent and copyright. Subject to appropriation by anyone.
A work is said to be in the public domain if it is not protected by copyright, or if the copyright for it has expired.
Material that is not under copyright and can therefore be used without permission; normally, however, a source citation is given.
Generally, you must not ‘use’ or ‘publish’ your IP before application for formal protection, or it will be in the ‘public domain’.
When pictures and stories are in the public domain, it means that anyone can use them for the purposes for which they were intended. For example, "The Star Spangled Banner" is public. You can sing or record it without paying someone for the rights to use it. Graphics that are in the public domain can be copied and used on your Web pages. To the Top Q Section To the Top R Section Refresh: Nearly every browser has a Refresh or Reload feature that allows you to try to load a Web page that may have appeared with errors in it. Refresh is the term use with the Internet Explorer browser.
Of all the kinds of software or information you can download, public domain had the fewest strings attached. With public domain downloads, there are no copyright restrictions whatsoever.
Software with title and copyright specifically relinquished by the creator.
Any material that can be freely used by the public, and does not come under the protection of a copyright, trademark, or patent.
Information and software given in the public domain is available to anyone and does not have to be paid for to use for personal or commercial gain. For example, many early texts, now out of copyright, can be used almost verbatim and even sold if the individual or company sees fit. Some items, such as reports given freely by authors to promote their own goods and services, though not strictly in the public domain, can also be received free of charge and sold for financial gain. In such a case, authors and providers normally indicate conditions on which their works may be used, typically by insisting the resource box containing their business and contact details remain intact at all times.
Author claims no copyright to the software or it's source code and allows you to do with as you wish with the program and or it's source code. Source code is usually included with a Public Domain distribution.
The state in which the creator of a work loses the copyright on it through the passage of the copyright period, failure to renew the work, or problems with the original registration of the work with the copyright office.
Belonging to the public; not protected by copyright.
Software, clipart, photographs, music and other intellectual property that is available for use by the general public for free. Public domain items may be un-copyrighted or intellectual property where the copyright has run out and now available for anyone to use.
Software that is freely available to anyone. (cf. Shareware.)
PD A creative work that can be used without charge because it is not copyrighted or because the copyright has expired.
the end of a term of copyright; no porn images are in the public domain.
In open view; before the public at large and not in private or employing secrecy or other protective measures. No Definitions
Intellectual property, including software, Web documents, images, etc. that are not legally protected by copyright or patent regulations and are freely available for use to the public.
A legal term used to describe graphics and other intellectual property. When an item is in the public domain, anyone can use it free of charge. Clip art is an example of a graphic type that is in the public domain.
Something that is in the "public domain" may be freely used by anyone, and no-one is allowed to place restrictions on its use or distribution. Compare Copyright.
Public domain software is released without any conditions upon its use. It may be copied, modified, and distributed as the user pleases. This type of software generally has the smallest level of support available.
Means that no one owns something, such as some software programs available on the Net. When something is public domain, it is free to anyone who wants to get and use it.
Works are in the public domain when their copyright term has expired; they are then freely available for use by anybody. Works may be dedicated to the public domain by their copyright-holder; for instance, the U.S. government has determined that all of its works are in the public domain.
Works that are freely available for commercial or public use without restriction - not protected by copyright restrictions.
When a work enters the public domain, anyone can use it without risk of infringement because it is no longer protected by copyright. This occurs after the expiration of the copyright term under law (usually the life of the author plus 50 years).
The realm of works not protected by copyright.
Not copyrighted, either because it never was or because the copyright has expired or lapsed; public domain material can be used without attribution or permission, though good writing practice means making a note of sources.
Where copyrighted creative works ownership revert to when the copyright laws no longer apply.
when the original copyright holder relinquishes all rights to the intellectual property or when the statutory term for protection expires.
Works in any medium that are not copyright protected under copyright law and are therefore free for all to use without permission. This can include works that were originally non-copyrightable (such as ideas, facts or names); copyrights that have been lost or expired; copyright owned or authored by the federal government (federal documents and publications are not copyrighted and so are public domain); and any works which have been specifically granted to the public domain.
"the realm embracing property rights that belong to the community at large, are unprotected by copyright or patent, and are subject to use by anyone" - from Merriam-Webster Online.
Material that is uncopyrighted, whose copyright has expired, or is uncopyrightable. The last includes government publications, jokes, titles - and, it should be remembered, ideas.
software or files you can use or distribute freely.
Work that is not protected by copyright.
Software that is free to be used, distributed, or modified. It has been given to the public free of copyright infringement.
Not subject to copyright, public domain works may be freely reproduced.
Material that is freely usable by anyone, but still could be copyrighted.
The status of an invention, creative work, commercial symbol, or any other creation that is not protected by some form of intellectual property.
A term of American copyright law referring to works that are not copyright protected, free for all to use without permission. Examples include works that were originally non-copyrightable (items that by their very nature are not eligible for copyright such as ideas, facts or names), copyright that has been lost or expired, where copyright is owned or authored by the federal government (federal documents and publications are not copyrighted and so are public domain), and those works which have been specifically granted to the public domain.
A creative work, invention or logo that is available for use without permission from its owner. This typically occurs after patent, trademark or copyright protection has expired.
Computer software on which no copyright exists (usually by a specific statement to that effect by the author), and which may be freely used and distributed.
Public domain comprises the body of knowledge and innovation (especially creative works such as writing, art, music, and inventions) in relation to which no person or other legal entity can establish or maintain proprietary interests within a particular legal jurisdiction. This body of information and creativity is considered to be part of a common cultural and intellectual heritage, which, in general, anyone may use or exploit, whether for commercial or non-commercial purposes. Only about 15 percent of all books are in the public domain, and 10 percent of all books are still in print.