Commons:Hirtle chart - Wikimedia Commons
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This is a Commons tags translation table of the
chart
created by Peter B. Hirtle of
Cornell University
, now uploaded as
this PDF document
. It is a best effort to guide people in determining when media will enter the public domain
in the United States
For further information about US copyright rules on Commons, see
Commons:Copyright rules by territory/United States
Beware:
Use at your own risk
Works except sound recordings and architecture
This table is for image and text works. See also the separate sections for
Sound recordings
and
Architectural works
Never
published
, Never registered works
Type of work
Copyright Term
What was in the public domain in the US as of 1 January 2026
Commons copyright tag
Unpublished works
Known author with a known date of death: 70 years after the death of author.
Works from author who died before 1956
{{PD-US-unpublished}}
Unpublished anonymous and pseudonymous works, and works made for hire (corporate authorship)
Unpublished works when the death date of the author is not known
120 years from creation
Created before 1906
{{PD-US-unpublished}}
Works Registered or First
Published
in the U.S.
Date of Publication
Conditions
Copyright Term
Commons copyright tag
Before 1931
None
None. In the public domain due to copyright expiration
{{PD-US-expired}}
1931 through 1977
Published
without a
copyright notice
None. In the public domain due to failure to comply with required formalities
{{PD-US-no notice}}
1978 through 28 February 1989
Published
without
notice
, and without subsequent registration within 5 years
Special case: Beginning November 1981, under a court ruling, "an untitled motion picture or other audiovisual work whose duration is sixty seconds or less" was allowed to merely give notice "that is embodied in the copies by a photomechanical or electronic process, in such a position that it ordinarily would appear to the projectionist or broadcaster when preparing the work for performance." In practice, this typically makes it almost impossible to determine that the publisher of any such work did
not
provide such notice unless you have the original distribution media at hand.
None. In the public domain due to failure to comply with required formalities
{{PD-US-1978-89}}
1978 through 28 February 1989
Published
without
notice
, but with subsequent registration within 5 years
Known author with a known date of death: 70 years after the death of author.
Other works
: 95 years from publication OR 120 years from creation, whichever expires first
{{PD-old-70}}
n/a (earliest 2074) OR
{{PD-US-unpublished}}
1931 through 1963
Published
with
notice
but copyright
was not renewed
None. In the public domain due to copyright expiration
{{PD-US-not renewed}}
1931 through 1963
Published
with
notice
and the copyright was renewed
95 years after publication date
n/a (earliest 2027)
1964 through 1977
Published
with
notice
95 years after publication date
n/a (earliest 2060)
1978 through 28 February 1989
Created after 1977 and published with
notice
Known author with a known date of death: 70 years after the death of author
Other works
: 95 years from publication OR 120 years from creation, whichever expires first
n/a (earliest 2049), but after 2049 either:
{{PD-old-70}}
n/a (earliest 2074) OR
n/a (earliest 2099)
1978 through 28 February 1989
Created before 1978 and first published with
notice
in the specified period.
The greater of the term specified in the previous entry or 31 December 2047
n/a (earliest 2049), but after 2049 either:
{{PD-old-70}}
n/a (earliest 2074)
{{PD-US-unpublished}}
1 March 1989 through 2002
Created after 1977
Known author with a known date of death: 70 years after the death of author.
Other works
: 95 years from publication OR 120 years from creation, whichever expires first
n/a (earliest 2049), but after 2049 either:
{{PD-old-70}}
n/a (earliest 2085) OR
n/a (earliest 2098)
1 March 1989 through 2002
Created before 1978 and first published in this period
The greater of the term specified in the previous entry or 31 December 2047
n/a (earliest 2049), but after 2049 either:
{{PD-old-70}}
n/a (earliest 2085) OR
{{PD-US-unpublished}}
2003 or later
None
Known author with a known date of death: 70 years after the death of author.
Other works
: 95 years from publication OR 120 years from creation, whichever expires first
{{PD-old-70}}
n/a (earliest 2099) OR
{{PD-US-unpublished}}
Anytime
Works prepared by an officer or employee of the United States Government as part of that person's official duties.
None. In the public domain in the United States (17 U.S.C. § 105)
One of the copyright templates in
Category:PD-USGov license tags
Anytime
Works released into the public domain by the copyright holder.
None.
{{PD-self}}
{{PD-user}}
{{PD-author}}
Works First Published Outside the U.S. by citizens of foreign nations
or U.S. Citizens Living Abroad. On Commons these cases also need to be free according to
copyright terms in the country of publication
. These terms are not part of this table.
Date of Publication
Conditions
Copyright Term
Commons copyright tag
Before 1931
None
In the public domain (But see first special case below)
{{PD-US-expired}}
Works Published Abroad Before 1978
1931 through 1977
Published
without compliance with US formalities, and in the public domain in its source country as of URAA date
In the public domain
{{PD-1996}}
1931 through 1977
Published
in compliance with all US formalities (
notice
, and renewal for pre-1964 works)
95 years after publication date
(earliest 2027)
1931 through 1977
Solely published abroad, without compliance with US formalities or republication in the US, and not in the public domain in its home country as of URAA date
95 years after publication date
(earliest 2027)
1931 through 1977
Published
in the US less than 30 days after publication abroad
Use the US publication chart to determine duration
1931 through 1977
Published
in the US more than 30 days after publication abroad, without compliance with US formalities, and not in the public domain in its home country as of URAA date
95 years after publication date
(earliest 2027)
Works
Published
Abroad After 1 January 1978
1 January 1978 through 28 February 1989
Published
without
copyright notice
, and in the public domain in its source country as of URAA date
In the public domain
{{PD-1996}}
1 January 1978 through 28 February 1989
Published
with
copyright notice
Use the US publication chart to determine duration
1 March 1989 or later
Published
without
copyright notice
, and in the public domain in its source country as of URAA date
Use the US publication chart to determine duration
1 January 1978 or later
Published
either with or without
copyright notice
, and not in the public domain in its home country as of URAA date
Use the US publication chart to determine duration
Special Cases
1 July 1909 through 1978
In Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands ONLY. Published in a language other than English, and without subsequent republication with a
copyright notice
Treat as an unpublished work until such date as first US-compliant publication occurred
Anytime
Created by a resident of Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq or Marshall Islands and published in one of these countries. Works from Palau, Somalia or South Sudan may also be included
Not protected by US copyright law until they become party to bilateral or international copyright agreements
{{Copyright notes}}
Anytime
Works whose copyright was once owned or administered by the
Alien Property Custodian
, and whose copyright, if restored, would as of the URAA date
, be owned by a government
Not protected by US copyright law
{{PD-US-alien property}}
Anytime
If published in one of the following countries, the URAA date given above is replaced by the date of the country's membership in the Berne Convention or the World Trade Organization, whichever is earlier:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Cook Islands, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Haiti, Jersey, Jordan, Kiribati, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Micronesia, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nauru, Nepal, Niue, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Samoa, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen
...
...
Sound recordings
The following information applies only to the sound recording itself, and not to any copyrights in underlying compositions or texts.
Date of Fixation/Publication
Conditions
What was in the public domain in the U.S. as of 1 January 2026
Commons copyright tag
Unpublished Sound Recordings, Domestic and Foreign
Prior to 15 Feb. 1972
Indeterminate
Subject to state common law protection. Enters the public domain on 15 Feb. 2067
(latest 15 Feb. 2067)
15 Feb. 1972 or later
Life of the author + 70 years. For anonymous and corporate works,
120 years from the date of fixation
Nothing. The soonest anything enters the public domain is 15 Feb. 2067
(earliest 15 Feb. 2067)
Sound Recordings Published in the United States
Prior to 1926
None
In the public domain
{{PD-US-record-expired}}
1926 to 1946
None
100 years from publication
(earliest 2027)
1947 to 1956
None
110 years from publication
(earliest 2058)
1957 to 14 Feb. 1972
None
Enters the public domain on 15 Feb. 2067
(earliest 15 Feb. 2067)
15 Feb. 1972 through 1977
Published without notice (i.e., year of publication, and name of copyright owner)
In the public domain
{{PD-US-no notice}}
15 Feb. 1972 through 1977
Published with notice
95 years from publication. 2068 at the earliest
(earliest 2068)
1978 through 28 February 1989
Published without notice, and without subsequent registration
In the public domain
{{PD-US-1978-89}}
1978 through 28 February 1989
Published with notice
70 years after death of author, or if work of corporate authorship, the shorter of 95 years from publication, or 120 years from creation. 2049 at the earliest
1 March 1989 or later
None
Known author with a known date of death: 70 years after the death of author.
Other works
: 95 years from publication OR 120 years from creation, whichever expires first
2049 at the earliest
(earliest 2049), after 2049
{{PD-old-70}}
(earliest 2085)
(earliest 2110)
Anytime
Sound recordings fixed by an officer or employee of the United States Government as part of that person's official duties.
None. In the public domain in the United States (17 U.S.C. § 105)
One of the copyright templates in
Category:PD-USGov license tags
Anytime
Works released into the public domain by the copyright holder.
None.
{{PD-self}}
{{PD-user}}
{{PD-author}}
Sound Recordings Published Outside the United States
Prior to 1926
None
In the public domain
{{PD-US-record-expired}}
1926 to 1946
None
100 years from publication
(earliest 2027)
1947 to 1956
None
110 years from publication
(earliest 2058)
1957 to 14 Feb. 1972
None
Enters the public domain on 15 Feb. 2067
(earliest 15 Feb. 2067)
15 Feb. 1972 through 28 February 1989
In the public domain in its home country as of URAA date
or there was US publication within 30 days of the foreign publication (but see special cases)
Subject to state common law protection. Enters the public domain on 15 Feb. 2067
(latest 15 Feb. 2067)
15 Feb. 1972 through 1977
Not in the public domain in its home country as of URAA date
. At least one author of the work was not a US citizen or was living abroad, and there was no US publication within 30 days of the foreign publication (but see special cases)
95 years from date of publication. 2068 at the earliest
n/a (earliest 2068)
1978 through 28 February 1989
Not in the public domain in its home country as of URAA date
. At least one author of the work was not a US citizen or was living abroad, and there was no US publication within 30 days of the foreign publication (but see special cases)
Known author with a known date of death: 70 years after the death of author.
Other works
: 95 years from publication OR 120 years from creation, whichever expires first
{{PD-old-70}}
(earliest 2074)
(earliest 2099)
1 March 1989 or later
None
Known author with a known date of death: 70 years after the death of author.
Other works
: 95 years from publication OR 120 years from creation, whichever expires first
{{PD-old-70}}
(earliest 2085)
(earliest 2110)
Special Cases
Fixed at any time
Created by a resident of Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq or Marshall Islands and published in one of these countries. Works from Palau, Somalia or South Sudan may also be included
Not protected by US copyright law because they are not party to international copyright agreements
n/a, n/a,
{{PD-Iran}}
{{PD-Iraq}}
Fixed prior to 1996
Works whose copyright was once owned or administered by the
Alien Property Custodian
, and whose copyright, if restored, would as of URAA date
be owned by a government
Not protected by US copyright law
{{PD-US-alien property}}
Fixed at any time
If fixed or solely published in one of the following countries, the URAA date given above is replaced by the date of the country's membership in the Berne Convention or the World Trade Organization, whichever is earlier:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Cook Islands, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Haiti, Jersey, Jordan, Kiribati, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Micronesia, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nauru, Nepal, Niue, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Samoa, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen
...
...
Architectural works
Architectural plans and drawings may also be protected as textual/graphics works
Date of Design
Date of Construction
Copyright Status
Commons copyright tag
Prior to 1 Dec. 1990
Not constructed by 31 Dec. 2002
Protected only as plans or drawings
{{PD-US-architecture}}
Prior to 1 Dec. 1990
Constructed by 1 Dec. 1990
Protected only as plans or drawings
{{PD-US-architecture}}
Prior to 1 Dec. 1990
Constructed between 30 Nov. 1990 and 31 Dec. 2002
Building is protected for 70 years after death of author, or if work of corporate authorship, the shorter of 95 years from publication, or 120 years from creation
{{FoP-US}}
From 1 Dec. 1990
Immaterial
Building is protected for 70 years after death of author, or if work of corporate authorship, the shorter of 95 years from publication, or 120 years from creation
{{FoP-US}}
References
Notes
Anonymous works, pseudonymous works, works made for hire, and works where the date of author's death is unknown
US English term:
Foreign nationals
1 January 1996 for most countries; see
w:Wikipedia:Non-US copyrights
for the most current list
Bibliography
CC-BY-4.0
© 2004–2026 Peter B. Hirtle. Last updated 31 January 2019. Use of this chart is governed by the
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
Wiki adaptation by
User:TheDJ
. If you spot an error, please discuss on the Talk page.
This page does not constitute legal advice.
See also
Commons:Editor's index to Commons § Copyright
– more information about copyright and licensing
s:en:Help:Public domain
– a similar chart for books
Commons:Public art and copyrights in the US
Retrieved from "
Categories
Commons licensing help
Copyright rules of the United States
Hidden category:
Images requiring an update
Commons
Hirtle chart
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