2021 in public domain

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When a work's copyright expires, it enters the public domain . The following is a list of creators whose works enter the public domain in 2021. Since laws vary globally, the copyright status of some works are not uniform.

Contents

Entering the public domain in countries with life + 70 years

With the exception of Belarus (where the copyright protection is life + 50 years) [1] :Art. 22(1) and Spain (which has a copyright term of life + 80 years for creators that died before 1987), a work enters the public domain in Europe 70 years after the creator's death, if it was published during the creator's lifetime. For previously unpublished material, those who publish it first will have the publication rights for 25 years. The list is sorted alphabetically and includes a notable work of the creator that entered the public domain on 1 January 2021.

NamesCountryBirthDeathOccupationNotable work
Octave-Louis Aubert Flag of France.svg  France 8 January 187014 January 1950Writer, journalistLe Livre de la Bretagne
Irving Bacheller Flag of the United States.svg  United States 26 September 185924 February 1950Writer, journalist Eben Holden
Sergei Bakhrushin Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 8 October 18828 March 1950Historian
Miklós Bánffy Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 30 December 18735 June 1950Nobleman, politician, writer A Transylvanian Tale
Pavel Bazhov Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 27 January 18793 December 1950Writer The Malachite Box
Max Beckmann Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 12 February 188427 December 1950Painter, draftsman, printmaker, sculptor
William Rose Benét Flag of the United States.svg  United States 2 February 18864 May 1950Writer, poet, editor Saturday Review of Literature , The Reader's Encyclopedia
Lev Berg Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 14 March 187624 December 1950Geographer, biologist and ichthyologist
Ben Black Flag of the United States.svg  United States 11 December 188926 December 1950Composer, lyricist"Moonlight and Roses"
Léon Blum Flag of France.svg  France 9 April 187230 March 1950PoliticianLes Problèmes de la Paix
Ambrogio Bollati  [ it ]Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 26 November 187126 March 1950General, Historian Works
D. K. Broster Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2 September 18777 February 1950NovelistThe Flight of the Heron
Herbert Ashwin Budd Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 18811950Painter
Joe Burke Flag of the United States.svg  United States 18 March 18849 June 1950Songwriter, Composer, pianist"Dancing With Tears in My Eyes", "Painting the Clouds With Sunshine", "Rambling Rose", "Tip-Toe Through the Tulips"
Edgar Rice Burroughs Flag of the United States.svg  United States 1 September 187519 March 1950Author of adventure and science fiction Tarzan and Barsoom
J. Carlos Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 18 July 18842 October 1950Cartoonist, illustrator, graphic designer, sculptor
Basilio Cascella Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 2 October 186024 July 1950Artist Il bagno della pastora  [ it ]
Alfonso Daniel Rodríguez Castelao Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 29 January 18867 January 1950Painter
Neville William Cayley Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 7 January 188617 March 1950Ornithologist & artist"What Bird is That?", 1931
Francesco Cilea Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 26 July 186620 November 1950Composer L'arlesiana and Adriana Lecouvreur
Leôncio Correia (pt)Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 1 January 186519 June 1950Lawyer, politician, writer and journalist
Erle Cox Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 15 August 187320 November 1950Journalist and science fiction writerOut of the Silence
Walter Damrosch Flag of the United States.svg  United States 30 January 186222 December 1950Composer
Frank Parker Day Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 9 May 188130 July 1950Author and academic
Warwick Deeping Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 28 May 187720 April 1950Author Sorrell and Son
Buddy DeSylva Flag of the United States.svg  United States 27 January 189511 July 1950SongwriterAvalon, Look For the Silver Lining, Somebody Loves Me
Edward d'Evry Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6 June 186925 December 1950Composer
Lancelot de Mole Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 12 March 18806 May 1950Engineer & inventorTracked armoured vehicle, 1911
Clément Doucet Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 9 April 189515 October 1950Composer, pianist
Anatoly Drozdov (ru)Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 4 November 188310 September 1950Composer, pianist
Theodor Duesterberg Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 19 October 18754 November 1950PoliticianThe Steel Helmet and Hitler
Walter Eucken Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 17 January 189120 March 1950Economist Works
Percy Keese Fitzhugh Flag of the United States.svg  United States 7 September 18765 July 1950Author of children and young adult literature
Yevgeny Gunst Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 7 June 187730 January 1950Composer
John Gould Fletcher Flag of the United States.svg  United States 3 January 188610 May 1950PoetSelected Poems
Ernest Haycox Flag of the United States.svg  United States 1 October 189913 October 1950Author of Western fiction
John Rippiner Heath Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4 January 188723 December 1950Doctor, musician, composerThree Macedonian Sketches
William Hovgaard Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
28 November 18575 January 1950Professor, WriterSubmarine Boats, The Voyages Of The Norsemen To America
Heydar Huseynov Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan 3 April 190815 August 1950PhilosopherDialectical Materialism
Rex Ingram Flag of the United States.svg  United States 15 January 18922 July 1950Film director, producer, writer and actor The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse , The Prisoner of Zenda
George Cecil Ives Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1 October 18674 June 1950Writer, penal reformer English Prisons Today
Émile Jaques-Dalcroze Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 6 July 18651 July 1950Composer, music educator
Johannes V. Jensen Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 20 January 187325 November 1950Author The Long Journey
Charles L. Johnson Flag of the United States.svg  United States 3 December 187628 December 1950Composer
Al Jolson Flag of the United States.svg  United States 26 May 188623 October 1950Songwriter
Eddie Kilfeather Flag of the United States.svg  United States 5 April 190013 January 1950Composer
Alfred Korzybski Flag of Russia.svg  Russian Empire
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
3 July 18791 March 1950Engineer and founder of Institute of General SemanticsScience and Sanity: An Introduction to Non-Aristotelian Systems and General Semantics
Sigizmund Krzhizhanovsky Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 11 February 188728 December 1950Writer
Harold Laski Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 30 June 189324 March 1950Political theorist, economistA Grammar of Politics
Harry Lauder Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4 August 187026 February 1950Comedian, Singer/songwriter Roamin' in the Gloamin'
Lilian Sophia Locke Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 6 June 18691 July 1950Suffragette & Trade-unionistSecretary of the United Council for Woman's Suffrage, 1890s
Heinrich Mann Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 27 March 187111 March 1950Writer Professor Unrat
Edgar Lee Masters Flag of the United States.svg  United States 23 August 18685 March 1950Writer Spoon River Anthology
F. O. Matthiessen Flag of the United States.svg  United States 19 February 19021 April 1950literary criticAmerican Renaissance: Art and Expression in the Age of Emerson and Whitman
Marcel Mauss Flag of France.svg  France 10 May 187210 February 1950Sociologist The Gift
Ernest John Moeran Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 31 December 18941 December 1950Composer
Alfred Edward Moffat Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4 December 18636 June 1950Composer, collector of musicMeister-Schule der alten Zeit
Edna St Vincent Millay Flag of the United States.svg  United States 22 February 189219 October 1950Poet, playwright Renascence
Ali Moustafa Mosharafa Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 11 July 189816 January 1950Theoretical physicist
Lewis Muir Flag of the United States.svg  United States 188119 January 1950Songwriter Ragtime Cowboy Joe
Pavel Muratov Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 3 March 18815 February 1950Writer, art historianImages of Italy
Nikolai Myaskovsky Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 20 April 18818 August 1950Composer Symphony No. 6 (Myaskovsky)
Vaslav Nijinsky Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 12 March 18898 April 1950Ballet dancer and choreographerDiary
George Orwell Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 25 June 190321 January 1950Journalist and author Animal Farm , Nineteen Eighty-Four also see George Orwell bibliography
Cesare Pavese Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 9 September 190827 August 1950Writer, translator The Moon and the Bonfires
Max Pemberton Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 19 June 186322 February 1950Novelist of adventure and mystery literature
Octávio Pinto Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 3 November 189031 October 1944Composer, architect
Ernest Poole Flag of the United States.svg  United States 23 January 188010 January 1950WriterHis Family
Gustaf John Ramstedt Flag of Russia.svg  Russian Empire
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
22 October 187325 November 1950Explorer, linguist, diplomatSeitsemän retkeä itään
R. R. Ryan Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 14 December 188218 October 1950Author
Eliel Saarinen Flag of Russia.svg  Russian Empire
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
20 August 18731 July 1950Architect Works
Rafael Sabatini Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
29 April 187513 February 1950Writer The Sea Hawk , Scaramouche , The Odissey of Captain Blood , Bellarion the Fortunate
Theophrastos Sakellaridis Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 7 September 18832 January 1950Composer, conductorΟ Βαφτιστικός
Guðjón Samúelsson Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 16 April 188725 April 1950Architect Hallgrímskirkja, National Theatre of Iceland, Akureyrarkirkja
Joseph Schumpeter Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 8 February 18838 January 1950Economist Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy
Milton Schwarzwald Flag of the United States.svg  United States 16 September 18912 March 1950Director, composer
George Bernard Shaw Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland
26 July 18562 November 1950Writer Man and Superman , Pygmalion , Saint Joan
Adaline Shepherd Flag of the United States.svg  United States 19 August 188312 March 1950Composer
Forrest Shreve Flag of the United States.svg  United States 8 July 187819 July 1950Botanist Works
Martinus Sieveking Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 24 March 186726 November 1950Composer, music teacher
Jan Smuts Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 24 May 187011 September 1950Statesman, military leader, and philosopher Holism and Evolution
John M. Stahl Flag of the United States.svg  United States 21 January 188612 January 1950Film Director and ProducerFather Was a Fullback
Olaf Stapledon Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 10 May 18866 September 1950Philosopher and science fiction author Star Maker , Last and First Men and Odd John
Henry L. Stimson Flag of the United States.svg  United States 21 September 186720 October 1950PoliticianDemocracy And Nationalism In Europe
Tatiana Sukhotina-Tolstaya Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 4 October 186421 September 1950Painter and memoirist
Attilio Teruzzi Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 5 May 188226 April 1950PoliticianCirenaica Verde
Trilussa Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 26 October 187121 December 1950Poet Works
Orhan Veli Kanık Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 14 April 191414 November 1950PoetGarip, Collected Poems
Xavier Villaurrutia Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 27 March 190325 December 1950Poet, Playwright Works
Archibald P. Wavell Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5 May 188324 May 1950GeneralGenerals And Generalship
Kurt Weill Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 2 March 19003 April 1950Composer The Threepenny Opera
Yi Kwang-su Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 1 February 189225 October 1950Writer, independence activistHeartless

Entering the public domain in countries with life + 80 years

Spain (for creators that died before 1987), Colombia and Equatorial Guinea have a copyright term of life + 80 years. The list is sorted alphabetically and includes one notable work that entered the public domain on 1 January 2021 for each creator.

List of authors
NamesCountryBirthDeathOccupationNotable work
J.-H. Rosny aîné Flag of France.svg  France 17 February 185611 February 1940Writer The Quest for Fire
Xerardo Álvarez Limeses  [ es ]Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 18711940Teacher, writer
Manuel Azaña Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 18801940Politician, political writer, Prime Minister
Julián Besteiro Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 21 September 187027 September 1940
E. F. Benson Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 24 July 186729 February 1940Writer, archaeologist Mapp and Lucia
Mikhail Bulgakov Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 15 May 189110 March 1940Writer, playwright, medical doctor The Master and Margarita
Rafael Flores Nieto  [ es ]Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 1 May 186425 November 1940Flamenco singer and guitarist
Philip Francis Nowlan Flag of the United States.svg  United States 13 November 18881 February 1940Writer Armageddon 2419 A.D.
F. Scott Fitzgerald Flag of the United States.svg  United States 24 September 189621 December 1940Novelist, essayist, screenwriter, and short-story writer This Side of Paradise , The Beautiful and Damned , The Great Gatsby and Tender Is the Night
Carlos Gómez Carrera  [ es ]Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 1903 or 190728 June 1940Cartoonist
Antonio de Hoyos y Vinent  [ es ]Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 18841940Playwright Bibliography
Louis J. Panella Flag of the United States.svg  United States 18813 March 1940Composer
Enrique Peinador  [ es ]Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 18801940Businessman
Indalecio Varela Lenzano  [ es ]Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 18561940Musicologist, music critic
María Vinyals Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 18751940Publicist, essayist

Countries with life + 60 years

In Bangladesh, India, and Venezuela a work enters the public domain 60 years after the creator's death.

NamesCountryBirthDeathOccupationNotable work
Vai. Mu. Kothainayaki Ammal Flag of India.svg  India 1 December 190120 February 1960Novelist
Rajshekhar Basu Flag of India.svg  India 16 March 188027 April 1960Chemist
A. Chakravarti Flag of India.svg  India 17 May 188010 February 1960Professor
Indira Devi Chaudhurani Flag of India.svg  India 29 December 187312 August 1960Musician
Sudhindranath Dutta Flag of India.svg  India 30 October 190125 June 1960Poet, journalist
M. Raghava Iyengar Flag of India.svg  India 18701960Literary scholar
Jigar Moradabadi Flag of India.svg  India 6 April 18909 September 1960PoetYeh Hai Maikada
Bal Krishna Sharma Naveen Flag of India.svg  India 8 December 189729 April 1960Poet, journalist, activist
Kesari Balakrishna Pillai Flag of India.svg  India 23 April 188918 December 1960Literary critic, journalistKesari
Nathuram Premi Flag of India.svg  India 26 January 188130 January 1960Poet, publisher
Navaratna Rama Rao Flag of India.svg  India 27 May 18771960Political leader, scholar
Sushila Samad Flag of India.svg  India 7 June 199610 December 1960Poet, journalist
Govind Sakharam Sardesai Flag of India.svg  India 17 May 186521 November 1959Historian
Sripada Krishnamurty Sastry Flag of India.svg  India 29 October 186629 December 1960Poet Mahamahopadhyaya
Kshitimohan Sen Flag of India.svg  India 2 December 188012 March 1960Professor
Acharya Chatursen Shastri Flag of India.svg  India 26 August 18912 February 1960Writer Dharamputra
Krishnalal Shridharani Flag of India.svg  India 16 September 191123 July 1960Poet, playwright
C. J. Thomas Flag of India.svg  India 14 November 191814 July 1960Playwright, academic, artist

Entering the public domain in countries with life + 50 years

In most countries of Africa and Asia, as well as Belarus, Bolivia, Canada, New Zealand, Egypt and Uruguay, a work enters the public domain 50 years after the creator's death.

NamesCountryBirthDeathOccupationNotable work
Abdul Hosein Amini Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 19023 July 1970Theologian Al-Ghadir
Rita Angus Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 12 March 190825 January 1970PainterCass
Shmuel Yosef Agnon Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 17 July 188817 February 1970Writer The Bridal Canopy
Fernando Arbello Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico 30 May 190726 July 1970Musician
Otto Baecker Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 7 January 189822 May 1970Cinematographer Gold
Archibald Baxter Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 13 December 188110 August 1970Socialist, pacifist We Will Not Cease
William Beaudine Flag of the United States.svg  United States 15 January 189218 March 1970Film director, actor Boys Will Be Boys
George Blair Flag of the United States.svg  United States 6 December 190519 April 1970Film Director
R. V. C. Bodley Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3 March 189226 May 1970Army officer, authorAlgeria From Within
Louise Bogan Flag of the United States.svg  United States 11 August 18974 February 1970PoetBody of This Death
Vera Brittain Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 29 December 189329 March 1970Writer Testament of Youth
William J. Brown Flag of the United States.svg  United States 1970Architect
Mohamed Fadhel Ben Achour Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 16 October 190920 April 1970Theologian Works
Dulce Carman Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 18831970AuthorNeath the Maori Moon
Rudolf Carnap Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 18 May 189114 September 1970PhilosopherDer Logische Aufbau der Welt
Émile Coderre  [ fr ]Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 10 June 18936 April 1970Poet Works
Charles Cotton (geologist) Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 24 February 188529 June 1970GeologistGeomorphology of New Zealand
Mohamed Abdelaziz Djaït Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 18865 January 1970Theologian Works
William Dobell Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 24 September 189913 May 1970Artist Mr Joshua Smith
Guy Endore Flag of the United States.svg  United States 4 July 190112 February 1970Author, screenwriter The Werewolf of Paris
E. M. Forster Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1 January 18797 June 1970Writer Works
Babbis Friis-Baastad Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 21 August 192110 January 1970Children's writerIkke ta Bamse
Erle Stanley Gardner Flag of the United States.svg  United States 17 July 188911 March 1970Author, lawyer Perry Mason series of books
Maurice Gemayel Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 191031 October 1970Politician Tripoli and Decentralization
L. Wolfe Gilbert Flag of the United States.svg  United States 31 August 188612 July 1970Songwriter Down Yonder
Rube Goldberg Flag of the United States.svg  United States 4 July 18837 December 1970Cartoonist, News reporter, Sculptor, Engineer
John Gunther Flag of the United States.svg  United States 30 August 190129 May 1970Author Death Be Not Proud
Muhsin al-Hakim Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 18891970TheologianMinhaj as-Saleheen
Alice Hamilton Flag of the United States.svg  United States 27 February 186922 September 1970Physician, research scientist Industrial Poisons in the United States
Lawren Harris Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 23 October 188529 January 1970Painter
Marlen Haushofer Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 11 April 192021 March 1970Writer
Erich Heckel Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 31 July 188327 January 1970ArtistRoquairol
Jimi Hendrix Flag of the United States.svg  United States 27 November 194218 September 1970Musician, singer-songwriter"Purple Haze"
Roman Ingarden Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 5 February 189314 June 1970PhilosopherThe Literary Work of Art
Michał Kalecki Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 22 June 189918 April 1970EconomistPróba teorii koniunktury
William Archibald Mackintosh Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 21 May 189529 December 1970EconomistEconomic Problems Of The Prairie Provinces
Leopoldo Marechal Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 11 June 190026 June 1970Writer Adam Buenosayres
François Mauriac Flag of France.svg  France 11 October 18851 September 1970Writer Thérèse Desqueyroux
Bruce McLaren Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 30 August 19372 June 1970Racing car driver Bruce McLaren: From the Cockpit
Yukio Mishima Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 14 January 192525 November 1970Novelist, playwright, poet, writer, essayist, critic Works
Gamal Abdel Nasser Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 15 January 191828 September 1970PoliticianPhilosophy of Revolution
Charles Olson Flag of the United States.svg  United States 27 December 191010 January 1970Poet Works
John Dos Passos Flag of the United States.svg  United States 14 January 189628 September 1970Novelist U.S.A. trilogy
Waldo Peirce Flag of the United States.svg  United States 17 December 18848 March 1970PainterLegends of the Hudson
Vladimir Propp Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 29 April 189522 August 1970FolkloristMorphology of the Tale
Alf Prøysen Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 23 July 191423 November 1970Musician, Writer, ComposerWorks
Erich Maria Remarque Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 22 June 189825 September 1970Novelist All Quiet on the Western Front
Ali Riahi Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 30 March 191227 March 1970Musician
Gonzalo Roig Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba 20 July 189013 June 1970Composer Cecilia Valdés
Mark Rothko Flag of the United States.svg  United States 25 September 190325 February 1970Abstract painter Black on Maroon
Bertrand Russell Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 18 May 18722 February 1970Philosopher, mathematician Principia Mathematica
Nelly Sachs Flag of the German Empire.svg  German Empire
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
10 October 189112 May 1970Poet, Writer Works
Ruth Sawyer Flag of the United States.svg  United States 5 August 18803 June 1970Writer Roller Skates
Slim Harpo Flag of the United States.svg  United States 11 January 192431 January 1970Blues Musician I'm a King Bee
William Stewart Wallace Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 23 June 188411 March 1970Historian Encyclopedia of Canada
Hassan Taqizadeh Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 27 September 187828 January 1970PoliticianOld Iranian Calendars
Sophie Treadwell Flag of the United States.svg  United States 3 October 188520 February 1970Playwright Machinal
Jacob Viner Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 3 May 189212 September 1970Economist Works
Otto Heinrich Warburg Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 8 October 18831 August 1970Physiologist The Metabolism of Tumours
Leonard Wild Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 28 October 188923 July 1970Agricultural scientist, writerAn Experiment in Self-government, Soils and Manures in New Zealand
Harry M. Woods Flag of the United States.svg  United States 4 November 189614 January 1970Songwriter When the Red, Red Robin (Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along)
Abraham Zapruder Flag of the United States.svg  United States 15 May 190530 August 1970Clothing manufacturer Zapruder film
Mahmoud Zulfikar Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 18 February 191422 May 1970Director

Entering the public domain in Australia

In 2004 copyright in Australia changed from a "plus 50" law to a "plus 70" law, in line with America and the European Union. However, the change was not made retroactive (unlike the 1995 change in the European Union which brought the works of those who died from 1925 to 1944 back into copyright). Hence the work of an author who died before 1955 is normally in the public domain in Australia; but the copyright of authors was extended to 70 years after death for those who died in 1955 or later, and no more Australian authors will come out of copyright until 1 January 2026 (those who died in 1955).

Unpublished works by authors who died in 1950 entered the public domain. [2] Any published literary, artistic, dramatic, or musical work (other than computer programs) by a not generally known author (anonymous or pseudonymous) from 1950 also entered the public domain.

NamesCountryBirthDeathOccupationNotable work
Cyril Tenison White Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 17 August 189016 August 1950Botanist/ExplorerMade significant contributions to knowledge of the flora of Queensland and northern New South Wales, and was regarded as an authority on tropical plants.
Erle Cox Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 17 August 187320 November 1950Writer"Out of the Silence"
Dame Mary Cook Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 186324 September 1950Social WorkVice President of the "War Chest Society" and President of the "Parramatta Branch of the Red Cross Society"
Frank Brennan Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 18736 November 1950PoliticianNoted Pacifist
Ted Colson Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 3 June 188127 February 1950AnthropologistCrossing of the Simpson Desert
Ian Morrison Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 13 May 191312 August 1950Journalist"This War against Japan : Thoughts on the Present Conflict in the Far East" 1944
Andrew Oswald Wilson Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 12 October 186619 June 1950ArchitectBoulder Town Hall
George Ainsworth Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 20 October 187811 October 1950Meteorologist & photographerLeader of the Macquarie Island party of the Australian Antarctic Expedition, December 1911 to November 1913
Neville William Cayley Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 7 January 188617 March 1950Ornithologist & artist"What Bird is That?", 1931
Lilian Sophia Locke Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 6 June 18691 July 1950Suffragette & Trade-unionistSecretary of the United Council for Woman's Suffrage, 1890s
Lancelot de Mole Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 12 March 18806 May 1950Engineer & inventorTracked armoured vehicle, 1911
Ada May Plante Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 4 October 18763 July 1950PainterFounding exhibitor at Pioneering Post-Impressionist Melbourne Contemporary Group, 1932
Beaumont Smith Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 15 August 18852 January 1950Film director"Our Friends the Hayseeds", 1917
Horace Stevens Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 27 October 187618 November 1950Opera singerSamuel Coleridge Taylor's "Hiawatha" London premiere, 1924
Clas Edvard Friström Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 26 January 186427 March 1950PainterExhibited 53 paintings with the Queensland Art Society, 1899-1902
Constance Elizabeth Darcy Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 1 June 187925 April 1950GynaecologistMember of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, London
Gustavus Athol Waterhouse Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 21 May 187729 July 1950Entomologist"The butterflies of Australia", 1914 and "What butterfly is that? A guide to the butterflies of Australia", 1932
Alexandrine Seager Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 10 November 187012 March 1950BusinesspersonFounded the Cheer-Up Society to provide comfort and entertainment for World War One soldiers
Ted Theodore Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 28 December 18849 February 1950PoliticianState president, Queensland Australian Workers' Union

Entering the public domain in the United States

The Great Gatsby entered the public domain in the US in 2021. The Great Gatsby Cover 1925 Retouched.jpg
The Great Gatsby entered the public domain in the US in 2021.

Under the Copyright Term Extension Act, books published in 1925, films released in 1925, and other works published in 1925, entered the public domain in 2021. [3] Additionally, unpublished works whose authors died in 1950 entered the public domain.

No sound recordings entered the public domain; under the Music Modernization Act, those published in 1925 will not enter the public domain until 2026. [4] However, all musical compositions published in 1925 entered the public domain in 2021.

Notable books that entered the public domain in 2021 in the United States include The Great Gatsby , Mrs Dalloway , the original German-language version of The Trial , An American Tragedy , The Secret of Chimneys , In Our Time , and Arrowsmith . [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

Copyright expiry in Australia depends on when a work was created, and on the type of work. Under the current law, copyright usually expires 70 years after the death of the author, or for anonymous works, 70 years from the date of publication. Crown copyright expires 50 years after publication. The law has evolved over the years, and previously photographs were treated differently from other works. Anonymous works and photographs created before 1955 are no longer under copyright. For non-photographic works created before 1955, where the author is known, the copyright expires 50 years after the death of the author.

The copyright law of Australia defines the legally enforceable rights of creators of creative and artistic works under Australian law. The scope of copyright in Australia is defined in the Copyright Act 1968, which applies the national law throughout Australia. Designs may be covered by the Copyright Act as well as by the Design Act. Since 2007, performers have moral rights in recordings of their work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Public domain in the United States</span>

Works are in the public domain if they are not covered by the intellectual property right known as copyright, or if the intellectual property rights to the works have expired. Works automatically enter the public domain when their copyright has expired. The United States Copyright Office is a federal agency tasked with maintaining copyright records.

When a work's copyright expires, it enters the public domain. The following is a list of works that entered the public domain in 2016. Since laws vary globally, the copyright status of some works are not uniform.

When a work's copyright expires, it enters the public domain. The following is a list of works that entered the public domain in 2017. Since laws vary globally, the copyright status of some works are not uniform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 in public domain</span> Overview of works entering public domain

When a work's copyright expires, it enters the public domain. The following is a list of works that entered the public domain in 2018. Since laws vary globally, the copyright status of some works are not uniform.

When a work's copyright expires, it enters the public domain. The following is a list of works that entered the public domain in 2019. Since laws vary globally, the copyright status of some works are not uniform.

When a work's copyright expires, it enters the public domain. The following is a list of creators whose works enter the public domain in 2020. Since laws vary globally, the copyright status of some works is not uniform.

When a work's copyright expires, it enters the public domain. The following is a list of works that entered the public domain in 2011. Since laws vary globally, the copyright status of some works are not uniform.

The following is a list of creators whose works enter the public domain on 1 January 2022. When copyright expires in a creative work, it enters the public domain. Since copyright terms vary from country to country, the copyright status of a work may not be the same in all countries.

When a work's copyright expires, it enters the public domain. The following is a list of creators whose works enter the public domain in 2023. Since laws vary globally, the copyright status of some works are not uniform.

When a work's copyright expires, it enters the public domain. The following is a list of creators whose works enter the public domain in 2024. Since laws vary globally, the copyright status of some works are not uniform.

When a work's copyright expires, it enters the public domain. The following is a list of creators whose works enter the public domain in 2025. Since laws vary globally, the copyright status of some works are not uniform.

When a work's copyright expires, it enters the public domain. The following is a list of works that entered the public domain in 2010. Since laws vary globally, the copyright status of some works are not uniform.

When a work's copyright expires, it enters the public domain. The following is a list of works that entered the public domain in 2009. Since laws vary globally, the copyright status of some works are not uniform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2026 in public domain</span> Overview of works entering public domain

When a work's copyright expires, it enters the public domain. The following is a list of creators whose works enter the public domain in 2026. Since laws vary globally, the copyright status of some works are not uniform.

When a work's copyright expires, it enters the public domain. The following is a list of works that entered the public domain in 2008. Since laws vary globally, the copyright status of some works are not uniform.

When a work's copyright expires, it enters the public domain. The following is a list of works that entered the public domain in 2007. Since laws vary globally, the copyright status of some works are not uniform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2027 in public domain</span> Overview of works entering public domain

When a work's copyright expires, it enters the public domain. The following is a list of creators whose works enter the public domain in 2027. Since laws vary globally, the copyright status of some works are not uniform.

When a work's copyright expires, it enters the public domain. The following is a list of creators whose works enter the public domain in 2028. Since laws vary globally, the copyright status of some works is not uniform.

References

  1. Law 194-3 of 11 August 1998
  2. "New copyright duration changes coming". Australian Government-Department of Communications & The Arts. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  3. "Copyright and the Public Domain". Public Domain Information Project. Archived from the original on 1 August 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  4. Hirtle, Peter B. (3 January 2020). "Copyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States". Cornell University Library Copyright Information Center. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  5. Jenkins, Jennifer (12 December 2020). "Public Domain Day 2021". Center for the Study of the Public Domain. Duke University. Archived from the original on 31 December 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2022.

Further reading