Works that are not protected by copyright are said to be in the Public Domain, and you are free to use them in any way you choose. That means no restrictions on copying and adapting, no need to seek permission, and no uncertainty about your rights as a user. There is also no legal requirement to attribute works in the Public Domain to their creators, although doing so is an important part of maintaining academic integrity.
A work typically enters the Public Domain when its term of copyright expires.
Source: UBC
Works that are determined to be in the public domain can often be copied, used, or modified in any way for academic purposes without asking for permission. This does not mean you can quote from the work without providing a proper citation! All the rules about plagiarism and academic integrity still apply to works in the public domain.
Some collections in the holdings of the Saint Mary's Library are subject to use/reproduction restrictions, which may apply to material protected by copyright or in the public domain. Some restrictions require that you obtain written permission to reproduce the material and/or obtain copies. Please remember to check with Library staff if you are uncertain about the status of a particular work.
General rule:
The general term of copyright protection in Canada changed on December 30th 2022, from 50 years after the life of the author to 70 years. Works where the term of copyright protection expired before December 30th, 2022 still remain in the public domain.
Copyright generally lasts for the life of the author, the remainder of the calendar year in which the author dies, and for 50 or 70 years following the end of that calendar year. Therefore, protection will expire on December 31 of the 50th or 70th year the author dies. After that, the work becomes part of the public domain and anyone can use it.
Some exceptions to the general rule are discussed below. Note that these exceptions are not all encompassing, and any issues where clarification of ownership is required should be resolved with the help of legal professionals.
Works listed under "Other Subject Matter"
Performer's performances: copyright lasts for 50 years after the end of the calendar year in which the performance is first fixed or, if it is not fixed, 50 years after it is performed.
Sound recordings: copyright lasts for 50 years after the end of the calendar year of the first fixation of the sound recording.
Communication signals: copyright lasts for 50 years after the end of the calendar year in which the signal was broadcast.
These government publications are created for (or published by) the Crown. Copyright in these works lasts for the remainder of the calendar year in which the work was first published, and for 50 years after that. Copyright is perpetual until the work is published.
In the case of a work that has more than one author, the term will be the date the last author dies plus 50 years following the end of that calendar year.
In the case of a work where the identity of the author is unknown, copyright consists of whichever is the earlier of:
the remainder of the calendar year of the first publication of the work plus 50 years; or
the remainder of the calendar year of the making of the work plus 75 years.
These are works that have not been published, performed or delivered in public during the lifetime of the author.
If the work was created after July 25, 1997, the term of copyright protection is the life of the author, the remainder of the calendar year in which the author died, and for 50 years following.
If the work was created before July 25, 1997, three different scenarios can exist:
The work of a deceased author that is published, performed or delivered prior to July 25, 1997, will retain copyright from the date of publication, plus 50 years, to the end of that calendar year.
The unpublished work of an author who was deceased during the 50 years prior to July 25, 1997, retains copyright until December 31, 1997 (the remainder of the calendar year in which Bill C-32 came into force), plus 50 years following the end of that calendar year.
The unpublished work of an author who deceased more than 50 years prior to July 25, 1997, retains copyright until December 31, 1997 (the remainder of the calendar year in which Bill C-32 came into force), plus five years following the end of that calendar year.
Source: Canadian Intellectual Property Office - A Guide to Copyrights
The box `What is the Public Domain`contains text from UBC and is being used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Please note: This guide does not provide legal advice. It is intended to give guidance about acceptable use of copyright protected materials.