This page is for information purposes only, and is not a legal document.

 

Public Domain and other "Free Use" Licenses
"Give it to the people"

This page is here to explain that the word "free" can be taken to a whole new level. Unless otherwise stated, all works created are protected by copyright laws, even if they are published on the internet! So when a website like Flickr is listed in the ActuallyFree.info directory under "free images you can look at", the word "free" does not give permission for those images to be used for commercial purposes (bought or sold) by anyone except the person who owns the copyright. There are, however, other licenses that a work can fall under which would allow the use of that work for commercial purposes. One could tap into these sources to make money for free on the internet or other publishable outlets without having to pay royalties or fees for using that work and without being in danger for illegal use or violation of copyright.



Copyright laws
Copyright laws protect the creator of a work by law and grants that creator exclusive use of that work. When a copyright expires, that work falls into the public domain. Then the work can be used by anyone for virtually any purpose. The details for when a work falls into the public domain are described under public domain below. Since the creation of the internet, other licenses have been created in order to encourage the cooperative efforts of other creators who can improve and expand upon a work created.

Copyright purchase, Royalties, Royalty Free
The copyright for a work can be sold, or a license to use a work protected under copyright can be sold. When that license includes a term for paying a percentage of money earned off of that work, then the money that the copyright holder receives is called a royalty. A Google search may reveal may sources for works that don't require royalties (royalty free), however the work must still be purchased.

Fair Use
Fair use is a license that allows the use of a work, usually for educational and non-commercial purposes, even though the work is still protected by copyright. Its very similar to a "creative commons, attribution, non-commercial, no derivative works" use license. Sources with a fair use license are included in the Creative Commons Resources Directory.

Creative Commons
"Creative Commons provides free tools that let authors, scientists, artists, and educators easily mark their creative work with the freedoms they want it to carry. You can use CC to change your copyright terms from 'All Rights Reserved' to 'Some Rights Reserved'."

Works that are given a creative commons license can be used freely, as long as the specific terms for that license are met.



For details on creative commons licenses, visit the creative commons website.

View the Creative Commons Resources Directory
One source that can be mentioned here is the Yahoo! creative commons search.

Sources that were given the Creative Commons Public Domain dedication are included in the Public Domain Resources Directory

GNU Free Documentation License
This license was created by the Free Software Foundation to encourage a mass collaborative effort for the development of free software. Hence, this license often applies to software, but I've seen it used for other purposes as well, such as images. The GNU Free Documentation License is described as "copyleft", which is essentially the same as public domain. No rights are reserved.

Sources which are given are GNU Free Documentation license are included in the Public Domain Resources Directory.

Public Domain
When the copyright of a work expires, that work falls in the public domain, and is then open to be used by anyone for virtually any purpose, whether for personal or commercial use.

In the United States, works published or created since 1978 are protected by copyright for the life of the creator plus 70 years. If the creator produced the work while hired by a corporation, then the work is protected by copyright for 120 years after creation, or 95 years after publication, which ever is shorter.

Works created before 1978 but published after may be protected until 2047. Works that received copyright before 1978 had to file a renewal with the Library of Congress. Those which did not are in the public domain.

All works created before 1923 are in the public domain

All works created by the federal government, or employees of the federal government while on the clock are in the public domain

Works can be in the public domain in one country, but not in another.

These are main points that are noted for United States copyright laws. Sources for more information on the public domain (mostly in the United States) are included in the Public Domain Resources Directory. If you'd like to know more about copyright laws in other countries, then see the Directory of Copyright offices.

View the Public Domain Resources Directory