- public domain
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public do·main /-dō-'mān/ n1: land owned directly by the government2: the realm or status of property rights that belong to the community at large, are unprotected by copyright or patent, and are subject to appropriation by anyone
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.
- public domain
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n.The body of knowledge and creative works, including works of film, music, literature, and inventions, whose copyrights are not owned by anyone and are thus considered available for free use by anyone.
The Essential Law Dictionary. — Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. Amy Hackney Blackwell. 2008.
- public domain
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1. (USA) land owned by the government.2. property rights not attached by anyone. In the UK so far as heritable or real property is concerned, almost anything that is not owned by someone is owned by the Crown or inherited by the Crown. The main practical use of the phrase in contemporary UK law is to denote intellectual property rights that are either still open or have been let out to the public in such a way that they are not protected by copyright patent, trademark or by obligations of confidence.
Collins dictionary of law. W. J. Stewart. 2001.
- public domain
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The status of any creative work, invention, or device that is not protected by copyright law. Such items are available for use without permission. Often, works enter the public domain after patent, copyright, or trademark rights have expired or been abandoned.Category: Patent, Copyright & Trademark → Copyright Law
Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary. Gerald N. Hill, Kathleen Thompson Hill. 2009.
- public domain
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n. Government-owned land; all publications, processes, and inventions that are not protected by patent or copyright.
Webster's New World Law Dictionary. Susan Ellis Wild. 2000.
- public domain
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Land that is owned by the United States. In copyright law, literary or creative works over which the creator no longer has an exclusive right to restrict, or receive a royalty for, their reproduction or use but which can be freely copied by the public.
Dictionary from West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005.
- public domain
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Land that is owned by the United States. In copyright law, literary or creative works over which the creator no longer has an exclusive right to restrict, or receive a royalty for, their reproduction or use but which can be freely copied by the public.
Short Dictionary of (mostly American) Legal Terms and Abbreviations.
- public domain
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n.1) in copyright law, the right of anyone to use literature, music or other previously copyrighted materials after the copyright period has expired. Although the copyright laws have been changed several times, a rule of thumb would be that the last possible date for copyright protection would be 50 years after the death of the author. Thus, the works of William Shakespeare, Mark Twain, Jack London and other classic writers are in the public domain and may be published by anyone without payment of a royalty.2) all lands and waters owned by federal, state and local governments.See also: copyright
Law dictionary. EdwART. 2013.
