Public Domain
Abraham Lincoln
1930 · Feature Productions / United Artists · Dir. D.W. Griffith
A biopic dramatizing Abraham Lincoln's life through a series of vignettes depicting its defining chapters: his romance with Ann Rutledge; his early years as a country lawyer; his marriage to Mary Todd; his debates with Stephen A. Douglas; the election of 1860; his presidency during the Civil War; and his assassination in Ford’s Theater in 1865.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The film 'Abraham Lincoln' (1930), directed by D.W. Griffith and starring Walter Huston, was originally registered for copyright by Feature Productions, Inc. on August 25, 1930 (LP1511). Under the Copyright Act of 1909, works registered between 1928 and 1963 required a formal renewal during the 28th year of their first copyright term to remain protected.
A search of the Stanford Copyright Renewal Database and the Library of Congress Catalog of Copyright Entries (CCE) reveals that no renewal was filed for this motion picture. The initial 28-year term expired in 1958 without the rights being extended. Consequently, the film entered the public domain in the United States upon the expiration of its first term.
This status is corroborated by the film's wide availability in public domain collections and the fact that it is frequently cited in reference works (such as Hurst's 'Film Superlist') as a classic example of a significant early sound film that lapsed into the public domain due to non-renewal.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Stanford Copyright Renewal Database
- U Penn Online Catalog of Copyright Entries (CCE)
- Hurst/Baer, Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain 1894-1939
- IMDb
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.