publicdomain

Public domain refers to creative works that are not protected by copyright or related rights, or for which those rights have expired or been relinquished. When works are in the public domain, anyone can reproduce, distribute, adapt, perform, or display them without obtaining permission or paying royalties. Public domain can include books, music, films, images, software, and other media.

Works enter the public domain in several ways. Copyright terms eventually expire, depending on the jurisdiction and the date of creation or publication. In some places, government-produced works are automatically in the public domain. Authors or rights holders can also dedicate a work to the public domain using a formal release such as a CC0 waiver. Some jurisdictions have exceptions for moral rights or other protections that may limit certain uses even in the public domain.

Public domain status varies by country. Different copyright terms and moral-rights rules mean a work may be public domain in one country but still protected in another. Understanding local rules is important for any planned reuse. Public domain materials are valuable for education, research, preservation, and creative reuse, enabling translations, adaptations, and new works without licensing barriers. However, other legal constraints can still apply, such as trademark, privacy, or publicity rights, and in some jurisdictions moral rights may persist.

In practice, public-domain materials are often used to build open resources, archives, and historical collections, while maintaining awareness that not all rights issues are automatically cleared merely by age.