Public domain
From Media Technology and Culture Change
Revision as of 13:34, 20 May 2007 by Scott Bartlett (talk | contribs)
The Public Domain is the body of knowledge and innovation that is not legally protected by patents and copyright laws. The content is considered to be part of the common cultural heritage and intellect collected over the expanse of history. The content of the public domain includes work that has been orally or lyrically preserved, recorded in print or stone, or digitally published. Something is considered a part of the public domain if:
- It was created before the introduction of copyright laws in a particular jurisdiction
- No individual or legal entity can maintain proprietorship within particular jurisdictions
- The term of copyright has expired
- Some countries do not offer copyright to certain classes of work. (Eg. All works of the U.S.A government is in the public domain).
