Answer
Wiki User
03/24/2007
Generally, no. However, Congress occasionally changes the law to give back copyright to lapsed works. Detailed information on laws, procedures, etc. and forms for copyright are on the Copyright Office website.
Related Questions
Asked in Copyright Law
Why can't writers copyright their own book?
Once you have written a book, it is copyright to you. All
writers copyright their own books.
...
Read More
Asked in War and Military History
What did Simon bolivar hope to accomplish?
To destroy the Spaniards and reestablish the republican
government that once formed the confederation of Venezuela
...
Read More
Asked in Copyright Law
Can you copyright?
Once a work of sufficient originality is fixed in a tangible
medium, it is automatically protected by copyright.
...
Read More
Asked in Copyright Law
How you get copyright?
Once a work of sufficient originality is fixed in a tangible
medium, it is automatically protected by copyright.
...
Read More
Asked in Copyright Law
Where does copyright apply?
Copyright applies to works of sufficient creativity once they
are fixed in a tangible medium.
...
Read More
Asked in Copyright Law
Can you own an expired copyright?
Once copyright term expires, the material enters the public
domain.
Read More
Asked in Cats (Felines), YouTube, Copyright Law
Is the nyan cat song copyrighted?
It almost certainly is. Any piece of work is copyright by the
person who created it; they can choose to put it in the public
domain or license it under a permissive license; and if they don't
act to protect their copyright it can become diluted to the point
that it is no longer enforceable. So there is a chance that the
Nyan Cat song's copyright has lapsed, but it is not safe to assume
that.
...
Read More
Asked in Copyright Law
How do you copyright art?
Works are automatically protected once they are fixed, but you
can register your art with the copyright office if you wish.
...
Read More
Asked in Copyright Law
What do you need to do to get copyright?
Once your work is fixed (written down, recorded, etc.), it is
automatically protected by copyright.
...
Read More
Asked in Copyright Law
What do you need to get a copyright?
Once your work is fixed (written down, recorded, etc.) it is
automatically protected by copyright.
...
Read More
Asked in Intellectual Property, Property Law, Peter Pan
Is Peter Pan public domain?
It's still under copyright in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
(until 2013), Colombia (2018), Spain (2018), and Mexico (2038).
Everywhere else, the copyright has lapsed.
However, special legislation in the UK grants Great Ormond
Street Hospital for Children (which Barrie gave the copyright to)
the perpetual right to collect royalties.
...
Read More
Asked in Definitions
What is the definition of lapsed?
Lapsed means that you have run out of time or expired. For
example, the extended warranty you purchased for your Ford F 150
has lapsed so the repairs for your new transmission will be out of
pocket.
...
Read More
Asked in Copyright Law
What does not in copyright mean?
Once copyright protection has expired, a work enters the public
domain, where it can be freely used and adapted.
...
Read More
Asked in Copyright Law
Do you have to do anything to be protected by copyright?
Once a work of sufficient originality is fixed in a tangible
medium, it is automatically protected by copyright.
...
Read More
Asked in Books and Literature
Can anyone give me the complete copy of the Story Ang Pulahan or The Pulahan by Vicente Sotto?
Have you tried gutenberg.org yet? Project Gutenberg has many,
many works that are either copywrite free, or lapsed copyright
...
Read More
Asked in Insurance, Life Insurance
Can you cancel a policy that has lapsed?
If thee policy has already lapsed, there is no active policy to
cancel. It means that it is already cancelled.
...
Read More
Asked in Intellectual Property, Property Law, Peter Pan
Is the story 'Peter Pan' in the public domain?
It's still under copyright in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
(until 2013), Colombia (2018), Spain (2018), and Mexico (2038).
Everywhere else, the copyright has lapsed.
However, special legislation in the UK grants Great Ormond
Street Hospital for Children (which Barrie gave the copyright to)
the perpetual right to collect royalties.
...
Read More
Asked in Copyright Law
What is the process of obtaining a copyright?
Once a work of sufficient originality is fixed in a tangible
medium, it is automatically protected by copyright; no action is
required.
...
Read More
Asked in Copyright Law
How do you copyright a newsletter?
Once it is fixed in a tangible medium, it is automatically
protected.
Read More
Asked in Copyright Law
Do you need to pay a fee to have copyright recognised?
No, your copyright is automatically applied once the work is
created in a tangible form, such as written, recorded, etc.
...
Read More
Asked in Copyright Law
Do you need to copyright a novel before sending out manuscripts?
Once the work is fixed in a tangible format, it is automatically
protected by copyright; no additional action is required.
...
Read More
Asked in Copyright Law, Raggedy Ann and Andy
Can you use the Raggedy Ann and Andy copyright?
While some (if not all) of the original books have lapsed into
the public domain, and can be used freely, the characters
themselves may be protected as trademarks so you will have to do
some further research depending on your intended use.
...
Read More
Asked in Copyright Law
Does copyright end once the person dies?
No. Under current US copyright law protection continues 70 years
past the death of the original author.
...
Read More
Asked in Copyright Law
What kind of work is not protected by copyright?
Work that is not protected by copyright is said to be in the
public domain. This can happen for two reasons. Either the work was
never copyrighted in the first place, or it was once copyrighted
but the copyright has expired.
Copyright also does not protect ideas, patentable materials, and
works of the federal government.
...
Read More