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Category: film

1928 over an hourglass breaking with musical notes and film

Lifecycle of Copyright: 1928 Works in the Public Domain

Posted by: Alison Hall

Every year on January 1, a new class of creative works enters the public domain in the United States. This year, a variety of works published in 1928, ranging from motion pictures to music to books, joined others in the public domain. The public domain has important historical and cultural benefits in the lifecycle of copyright. Here we highlight a selection of works entering the public domain in 2024.

Meet Olivia Charmaine Morris: A Champion for “People of Color and Colorful People”

Posted by: Ashley Tucker

June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) Pride Month, when we recognize the history and impact of LGBTQ individuals in the United States. This year, the Copyright Office celebrates Pride Month and extends our World Intellectual Property Day campaign by spotlighting Olivia Charmaine Morris (she/her), who is a queer media mogul and entrepreneur …

A person in a bright yellow sweater sits at a table, writing in a notebook; three grey and white icons float over the background on the left

What will the Implementation of the CASE Act mean for me? An Update on the Copyright Claims Board and Launch of ccb.gov

Posted by: Nora Scheland

The Copyright Office has announced the launch of a new website, ccb.gov, where businesses, creators, and users will be able to learn about the new Copyright Claims Board and how to file, opt out, or respond to claims when it opens later this year. Read on to find out what the Copyright Claims Board and ccb.gov will mean for you.

Get to Know the Territory: Musicals Based on Public Domain Works

Posted by: Nora Scheland

Do you hear the people sing, singing the songs inspired by the public domain? Broadways musicals have a long tradition of pulling inspiration from the plays, short stories, operas, and more in the public domain. Let's take a look at five musicals and what inspired them.

Black and white photo of a vampire from the film, Nosferatu

Copyright Horror Stories

Posted by: Steve Andreadis

The following is a guest post by Mary Daniel, summer 2020 law clerk in the Office of Policy and International Affairs. Mary is a third year at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. The Halloween season is the time of year for horror movies and scary stories. However, sometimes it’s the horror …

The National Film Registry’s Copyright Connection

Posted by: Alison Hall

Today, the Library of Congress and the National Film Preservation Board announced this year’s list of films added to the National Film Registry. Many favorite films are already part of the Registry, including Star Wars, The Muppet Movie, Airplane!, This Is Spinal Tap, The Breakfast Club, Top Gun, and The Princess Bride. This year’s additions do …