# Is it public domain or what?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-public-domain-or-what/210202>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 29, 2003, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-public-domain-or-what/210202 "2003-10-29T10:40:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-public-domain-or-what/210202/1 "2003-10-29T10:40:58Z")

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From [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=219329) several people offer out some great websites filled with hours of music recorded between the 1910-1930’s

Of course, like many in that thread, I’ve been going download crazy because this music is so cool.

Being a musician, I’ve been thinking today about perhaps re-doing a few of these tracks for a new CD.

How does one go about making sure these are in the public domain? I know I can hire the firm I’ve used in the past to clear tracks, but that costs a bit of money… money I’d rather not spend if there is a way to research myself.

Any pointers?

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2003, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-public-domain-or-what/210202/2 "2003-10-29T13:30:55Z")

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The rule is that anything published in the US prior to 1923 is in public domain.

Anything published 1923-1963 may or may not be PD, depending on whether the copyright was renewed.

See [http://fairuse.stanford.edu/Copyright\_and\_Fair\_Use\_Overview/chapter8/8-a.html](http://fairuse.stanford.edu/Copyright_and_Fair_Use_Overview/chapter8/8-a.html)