What is a public domain work?

A public domain work is a work that is not protected by copyright or other intellectual property rights and can be used freely by the public. This can include works that are in the public domain because of their age, have been explicitly placed in the public domain by their creators, or are produced wholly by the US government. In New York, the rights to public domain works, including works in the public domain because of their age, are governed by the Copyright Law of the United States. This law defines what is known as a “works in the public domain.” These are works that are not protected by copyright because either the copyright has expired or the work was not eligible for copyright protection when it was created. When a work enters the public domain, it is free for users to use and share without the need to pay royalties or seek permission from the copyright holder. This is why works in the public domain are so important for artists and other creators: they can use the works of others without having to worry about getting permission or paying fees. This is also why public domain works are often used in movies, television shows, and music.

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