When were the popular lyrics to Taps written? [more inside]
posted on Jun 26, 2008 - 2 answers

I have a website where I upload all of my photos and license them as public domain. Each photo is individually listed as public domain, each has a link to it's Creative Commons "license" as a work in the public domain, and the site is rather obviously all about photos in the public domain. The problem - Large companies are taking my photos and, without editing them, putting their copyright on them. Is this evil, and how nasty should I be about it? [more inside]
posted on Feb 27, 2008 - 28 answers

Is it or isn't it public domain? News article published in 1909 should be in the public domain, but news service I purchased it from says its copyrighted. [more inside]
posted on Nov 13, 2007 - 14 answers

I need to make a simple contract in which I photograph something and the resulting images end up in the public domain. [more inside]
posted on Nov 7, 2007 - 9 answers

Are U.S. Government publications copyrighted or in the Public Domain? More specifically, are Federal Reserve publications copyrighted or in the Public Domain? I'd like to be able to monkey with these comics, but am wary of violating copyright. (I've sent e-mail to the Federal Reserve asking this same question, but am skeptical that I'll receive a timely response.)
posted on Aug 23, 2007 - 28 answers

Does the public library have the right to charge a "licensing fee" or "usage fee" for images, photos, drawings, etc., that they have placed online, but that were created before January 1, 1923? Isn't this work in the public domain, and therefore, free of charge? [more inside]
posted on Jul 5, 2007 - 26 answers

How can I find the if a movie is in the public domain? [more inside]
posted on Apr 15, 2007 - 14 answers

Is there a definitive way to know whether a silent film is in the public domain or not? [more inside]
posted on Apr 6, 2007 - 15 answers

Do I need an MCPS license to make a CD of public domain music performed by myself? [more inside]
posted on Jan 22, 2007 - 4 answers

Copyright-filter: "The Public Domain status does not give you the right to resell material unless you have access to the original source and permission from the owner to reproduce the material" What? [more inside]
posted on Dec 19, 2006 - 13 answers

Where can I find a large database of photgraphs like this that are in the public domain? I'm also looking for a large site with pictures from World War I that are free to use. [more inside]
posted on Sep 3, 2006 - 9 answers

Are classic tales such as "Three Billy Goats Gruff", "The Tortoise and the Hare", and "Little Red Riding Hood" in the public domain and available to be reused? [more inside]
posted on Jan 25, 2006 - 9 answers

I was having an argument with a friend, and he stumped me with a question that I never even considered: "Why is the public domain so good?" I always accepted that, like puppies being cute and Bush being dumb, it just is. What are some concrete examples why it's so good?
posted on May 9, 2005 - 43 answers

Is John Ashcroft's singing of "Let the Eagle Soar" a copyrighted recording, or does him (formerly) being a gov't official doing it at some strange gov't event in public make it public domain?
posted on Nov 11, 2004 - 13 answers

How do you figure out who owns the rights to something? Specifically, I want to know who owns the rights to an old movie ("Dead of Night"). But I thought it might be useful to open the question up a bit more. Are there good databases out there where I can look up a book, song, movie, or whatever and find out if it's public domain or owned by someone -- and, if so, who owns it?
posted on Oct 31, 2004 - 10 answers

I have a question regarding copyright, public domain, and the digital domain. It's kind of a "fight the power" thing. [mi]
posted on May 22, 2004 - 14 answers

I'm looking for a quote by (I believe) a SCOTUS judge, who said that the purpose of copyright law is to protect the public domain first, and allow exploitation of creative works second.

I lost some of my notes on copyright, and extensive googling has turned up very little. I think Lessig might've referenced it in an interview/post somewhere on the net, but I'm having a hard time locating it. I turn to you, oh great Mefites.
posted on Feb 27, 2004 - 8 answers