Public Domain
A Slave's Love
1907 · Selig Polyscope Company · Dir. Albert Capellani
A noble Roman, bored with his life, sees a slave dance and they fall in love. Before they can consummate their passion, his wife has the slave killed and he drinks the same poison as she.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The film 'A Slave's Love' was produced by the Selig Polyscope Company and released in June 1907. Under US copyright law, any work published prior to January 1, 1928, has reached the end of its statutory copyright term and has conclusively entered the public domain.
Because this work dates to 1907, it falls into the category of films that were protected for a maximum of 56 years (an initial 28-year term plus a 28-year renewal) under the 1909 Act, or simply expired prior to the enactment of the 1976 Act extensions. As of January 1, 2023, all works from 1927 and earlier are legally in the public domain in the United States regardless of renewal status or original registration.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films (Early Years)
- U. Penn Online Books Page: Catalog of Copyright Entries
- Library of Congress: Motion Pictures, 1894-1912 (compiled by Howard Lamarr Walls)
- 17 U.S.C. § 304
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.