Important Cautions Regarding Public Domain:

1. Many people use the term "public domain" incorrectly to describe material that is "available to the public."

2. Once a work is in the public domain, it cannot itself later be copyrighted.

3. For a basic work that is in the public domain, however, a subsequent author or entity can claim copyright to supplemental material published with it, or to the selection and organization of parts of the work.

4. Unless you are certain that intellectual property is in the public domain, it is safest to assume that it is covered by copyright. Do not rely on:
   • the absence of a copyright notice;
   • the fact that work is distributed for free;
   • the availability of a work in a public place (e.g., on the WWW).

   Even if you find material that is freely available in a public place and contains no copyright notice, you cannot assume it is in the public domain. Ask for permission to use it.

Next: What is "fair use"?
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Copyright © March, 1997, by Carol Scheftic (based on original work at The Geometry Center and used with permission). All rights reserved.
Please send comments on this page, or requests for permission to re-use material from this page, to: scheftic@geom.umn.edu