What is the public domain?Briefly,it is articles,books,music,prints and films and so on which are no longer in copyright and as a result free to use by every person for whatever purpose they please.The items have therefore grow to be public property.

There are laws which restrict the use of copyright material but articles are said to be in the public domain if there are no laws to restrict their use.But be careful ,what may be in the public domain in 1 country,might not be in an additional country.

In most countries the copyright term is around the 20 year mark then it will have to be renewed otherwise it will fall into the public domain.On exception is “trademark registration”which ,as lengthy as the owner continues to use the item in question,lasts indefinitely.

Most countries specify that a number of years should pass right after the death of the last surviving creator.It varies from country to country but the term is normally 50 to 70 years.

USA laws(copyright) have changed a number of times over the years.Government works are automatically in the public domain ,such as military and court articles,unless developed by an outside agency as these could be still copyrighted.Typically it is 120 years right after the publication in most states that an item is released ,but in some circumstances could be sooner.Anything developed following the 1st January 1989 gets automatic copyright licence till 70 years right after the author’s death.In the case of joint authors or creators it is 70 years right after the last surviving creator.

In the UK works are either under crown copyright or parliamentary copyright .Published crown copyright articles fall into the public domain following 50 years,unless assigned to the crown by the creator,then it’s life plus 70 years.Unpublished works enter the public domain right after 125 years.

Legislation in August 1989 stipulated that no unpublished work will be in the public domain until 2039.

“This is all quite well and very good but how can I make income from the public domain ?” I hear you ask.

‘”Really quickly” I reply!Look hard sufficient on the internet and you will locate all manner of places to extract public domain material.Then it’s up to you and your imagination how you dispose of it.

You can sell it on 1 of the many auction websites springing up,sell it on your own internet site for that reason developing your own business.By mail order is an additional way.The possibilities are endless.Have photos made into table mats,key rings or placed on cups(there are a lot of sites who will do this).Frame old prints or laminate maps you are only limited by your own imagination.

So if you want to make cash on the net this is 1 way which won’t price you an arm and a leg!

Copyright Assignment