Protected
A Soldier's Plaything
1930 · Warner Bros. · Dir. Michael Curtiz
A pair of hapless half-wits get into continuous mischief during the occupation of Germany after WW I.
Confidence
95
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
A Soldier's Plaything was released by Warner Bros. in late 1930. Under US copyright law for works published between 1928 and 1963, a work entered the public domain 28 years after publication unless the copyright was renewed with the US Copyright Office.
Research indicates that this film was successfully renewed. According to the Stanford Copyright Renewal Database and the Library of Congress Catalog of Copyright Entries (CCE), the film was registered on November 13, 1930 (LP1756). It was subsequently renewed on December 30, 1957, by Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc. (Renewal Registration Number R205315).
Because the renewal was filed correctly within the 28th year window, the copyright was extended. Under the 1976 Copyright Act and the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act, this 95-year term from publication remains in effect. The film's copyright is set to expire on January 1, 2026.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Stanford Copyright Renewal Database (R205315)
- Catalog of Copyright Entries: Motion Pictures 1912–1939 (LP1756)
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films (A Soldier's Plaything, 1930)
- Hurst / D. Richard Baer, Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain 1894–1939
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.