This article is about public ownership of creative works. For other uses, see Public domain (disambiguation).
Intellectual property law and Intellectual rights
Primary rights
Copyright · Patent · Trademark · Trade secret · Geographical indication ·
Sui generis rights
Authors' rights · Database right · Indigenous intellectual property · Industrial design right · Integrated circuit layout design protection · Moral rights · Plant breeders' rights · Related rights · Supplementary protection certificate · Utility model ·
Related topics
Anti-copyright · Bioprospecting · Limitations and exceptions to copyright ·
(Fair dealing · Fair use · Right to quote) ·
Orphan works · Public domain · Societal views · Traditional safety valves ·
Outline of intellectual property
v · t · e ·
Works in the public domain are those whose intellectual property rights have expired,[1] have been forfeited,[2] or are inapplicable. Examples include the works of Shakespeare and Beethoven, most of the early silent films, the formulae of Newtonian physics, Serpent encryption algorithm and powered flight.[1] The term is not normally applied to situations where the creator of a work retains residual rights, in which case use of the work is referred to as "under license" or "with permission".