Not all works are protected by copyright law. Works that are not protected are in the public domain and can be used freely. The following works are in the public domain:

1) Most works created by the U.S. government
2) Most works published before 1923
3) A fact, factual works, ideas, or logos

As a rule, you should always assume a work is protected by copyright unless you can prove it is not. Remember, even an item that does not bear a copyright notice can be protected by copyright. The Copyright Act doesn’t require a notice.

If you are unsure whether or not a work is in the public domain, contact us for more information.