Public Domain
At Bear Track Gulch
1913 · Selig Polyscope Company · Dir. Harold M. Shaw
This western, with its simple story set in a gold mining camp, recycles many of the elements found in David Belasco's influential play, THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST, produced a decade earlier.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The film 'At Bear Track Gulch' was released in the United States on June 23, 1913, by the Selig Polyscope Company. It is a short Western directed by William Duncan.
Under current U.S. copyright law, specifically the Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998, all works published or registered in the United States prior to January 1, 1928, have entered the public domain. This occurs because their maximum 95-year copyright term (calculated from publication) has expired. As a 1913 release, this film transitioned into the public domain no later than January 1, 1989 (under the 75-year rule for works in their renewal term at the time of the 1976 Act), and this status is finalized under current law.
No renewal search is required for works of this age, as even a valid renewal would have expired decades ago. The film is now free for use, reproduction, and distribution within the United States.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- IMDb: At Bear Track Gulch (1913)
- The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures
- Library of Congress: Catalog of Copyright Entries: Motion Pictures 1912-1939
- U.S. Copyright Office: Circular 15a (Duration of Copyright)
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.