Is public domain the same as copyright free?

No, public domain and copyright free are not the same. Public domain is a concept of copyright law that refers to works that are not protected by intellectual property rights, such as copyright, trademark, or patent laws. This means these works can be used by anyone for any purpose without permission from the creator or copyright holder. Copyright free, on the other hand, means that the creator or copyright holder has given permission to use their work without having to pay for it. In Minnesota, copyright protection automatically exists for original works of authorship such as books, articles, music, and photographs, from the moment of creation. The copyright holder has the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, and perform the work in public. However, the copyright does not last forever. After a certain period of time, the copyright expires and the work passes into the public domain. This means anyone can use the work without asking permission or paying for it. While public domain and copyright free are not the same, they can have similar outcomes.

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