Can I use works in the public domain?

Yes, you can use works in the public domain. In Washington, public domain works are not protected by copyright law. This means that anyone may use them without seeking permission from the copyright holder. Public domain works can include works that have had their copyright expire, works in which the copyright holder has explicitly dedicated them to the public domain, works produced by the US government, and works excluded from copyright protection. For works that have had their copyright expire, the copyright term in Washington is 95 years for works created on or after January 1, 1978. Works created prior to that date have different copyright terms. It is important to consult a copyright lawyer if you are unsure about the status of a particular work. To determine if a work is in the public domain, you can consult an online public domain search engine such as the U.S. Copyright Office’s Public Domain Search. You can also consult resources such as Creative Commons, which offers free licenses that allow certain uses of works without seeking permission from the copyright holder. Ultimately, it is important to be aware of copyright laws when using works in the public domain, as violations of copyright law can result in civil and criminal penalties. It is always best practice to seek permission from the copyright holder before using a work in any way.

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Can I use works in the public domain?

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