What is the Public Domain?
The Public Domain refers to works are no longer protected by copyright - they now belong to the public.
In Canada, copyright lasts the lifetime of the author + 70 years*. After this period, the work enters the public domain and can be used free of charge by others without the need to request permission. Some examples of content that are in the Public Domain include the text of Shakespeare's original plays and the original Winnie-the-Pooh character (not the Disney version, with red shirt),
Sources of content for works that are in the Public Domain:
- The Internet Archive: a non-profit collection of public domain books, movies, software, music, webs and more.
- Project Gutenberg: one of the largest collections of works in the Public Domain.
We recommend that you always cite your source - even if the work is found in the Public Domain!
*NEW: As of December 30, 2022, the duration of Copyright in Canada has been adjusted to 70 years after the author's death.