Is public domain the same as copyright free?

No, public domain and copyright free are not the same. In Virginia, public domain is defined as any piece of work that is not protected by copyright law. This includes works that were published before 1923 or have been released by creators that have expired copyright protection, such as works by a federal government agency. Copyright free, on the other hand, is a term that applies to works that the creator has explicitly allowed people to use without getting permission or paying a fee. It does not mean that a creator has released the work into the public domain. In Virginia, works that are in the public domain can be used however the person wants, without permission from the creator or any fees. Works that are copyright free still require the user to follow the creator’s terms for use and may require them to pay a fee. Public domain and copyright free are not the same; people should be aware of the legal implications of each. Public domain works can be used without any fees or permission and copyright free works require that the user abides by the creator’s terms before using the material.

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