Title: Public Domain

*Updated: October 2023
Extension to Copyright Term in Canada
When this video was recorded, the general term of copyright protection in Canada was life of the author plus 50 years ("Life + 50"). On December 30, 2022, that term became Life + 70. This 20-year extension does not apply retroactively to works already in the public domain in 2022.

Learning Objectives

Learning objectives for this module

Learning Objectives:

- Describe the public domain’s scope and relationship with copyright
- Recognize the three categories of works in the public domain
- Identify public domain works
- Contribute your own works to the public domain

Read more: Public Domain and Academic Citation
While one can use works in the public domain without noting the author, do be mindful that in academic contexts proper citation practices attributing material should be followed.

Read more
Even simple, factually incorrect statements such as 1+7=9 or ‘Toronto is the capital of Canada’ cannot be protected by copyright.

[Image: Notice of copyright term extension from Life +50 to Life +70]

Extension to Copyright Term in Canada
In Canada, the general term of copyright is now life of the author plus an additional 70 years (increased from life plus 50 years effective 30 December 2022, without retroactive effect).

A work can be simultaneously in the public domain and protected by copyright in Canada

Q: A work can be simultaneously in the public domain and protected by copyright in Canada
A: false

Which of the following works would not be in the public domain in Canada?

Q: Which of the following works would not be in the public domain in Canada?
- A work which was never protected by copyright
- A work for which copyright protection has been waived
- A work for which the term of copyright has expired
- A Government of Canada report published in 1982 (correct)

Select the factor that would be relevant for determining if a single-authored book is in the public domain:

Q: Select the factor that would be relevant for determining if a single-authored book is in the public domain:
- The author was Canadian
- The book has a Creative Commons Attribution [CC-BY] licence
- The book was published in France
- The author died in 1964 (correct)

One way an author can place a work in the public domain is to:

Q: One way an author can place a work in the public domain is to:
- Apply to the Copyright Board of Canada
- Get approval from the Minister of Innovation
- Apply a CC0 waiver (correct)
- Make it available on the public Internet

Choose the correct statement.

Credits: Public Domain; by University of Alberta; 2019; licence CC BY 4.0