Dear mefites, Is it legal to use creative commons stuff, properly licensed and attributed, on a political website that 1) expresses views that the original author might not like, and 2) raises money, such as for a candidate or a party's branch? Particularly interested in stuff that's got a non-commercial license but is okay to use for derivative works. This is in the U.K. Thanks!
posted by anonymous on Jan 12, 2009 - 6 answers

Can Spoonflower or a similar company legally print me a bolt of fabric using a William Morris (1834-1896) design? [more inside]
posted by notquitemaryann on Jan 7, 2009 - 9 answers

Please give me your recommendations for great in-the-public-domain reads. [more inside]
posted by peacheater on Nov 28, 2008 - 25 answers

When were the popular lyrics to Taps written? [more inside]
posted by cider 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 by Ragma 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 by [insert clever name here] 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 by fake 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 by jdroth 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 by davidinmanhattan on Jul 5, 2007 - 26 answers

How can I find the if a movie is in the public domain? [more inside]
posted by victorashul 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 by (bb|[^b]{2}) 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 by cbrody 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 by crypticgeek 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 by interrobang 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 by bjork24 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 by keswick 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? [more inside]
posted by mathowie on Nov 11, 2004 - 12 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 by grumblebee 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] [more inside]
posted by keswick on May 22, 2004 - 13 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 by Jairus on Feb 27, 2004 - 8 answers