Protected
Anatomy of a Murder
1959 · Columbia Pictures · Dir. Otto Preminger
Semi-retired Michigan lawyer Paul Biegler takes the case of Army Lt. Manion, who murdered a local innkeeper after his wife claimed that he raped her. Over the course of an extensive trial, Biegler parries with District Attorney Lodwick and out-of-town prosecutor Claude Dancer to set his client free, but his case rests on the victim's mysterious business partner, who's hiding a dark secret.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
Anatomy of a Murder was originally released in 1959 and was registered for copyright by Carlyle Productions, Inc. (the production company of director Otto Preminger) on July 1, 1959, under registration number LP15296. Because it was released during the 1928–1963 window, it required a renewal in its 28th year to maintain protection.
A search of the Stanford Copyright Renewal Database and US Copyright Office records confirms that the copyright was successfully renewed on December 31, 1987, under renewal number RE0000361136. The renewal was filed by Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., as the proprietor of a work made for hire. Under the terms of the 1976 Copyright Act and subsequent extensions, the copyright is valid for 95 years from the original publication date, meaning the film will not enter the public domain in the United States until January 1, 2055.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Stanford Copyright Renewal Database (RE0000361136; LP15296)
- US Copyright Office Public Catalog (cocatalog.loc.gov)
- David Pierce, Motion Picture Copyrights and Renewals, 1950–1959
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.