Public Domain
Automatic Weapons: American vs. German
1943 · U.S. War Department
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
This film was produced by the U.S. War Department during World War II as a training and information film (specifically Training Film 9-1172). Under 17 U.S.C. § 105, copyright protection is not available for any work of the United States Government.
Works created by federal employees or agencies as part of their official duties are ineligible for copyright and enter the public domain immediately upon creation. This film is widely available via the National Archives (NARA) and the Internet Archive as a government-produced historical document without any copyright restrictions. Because it is a federal work, the rules regarding the 1928–1963 renewal window do not apply; the work was never subject to copyright to begin with.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- 17 U.S.C. § 105
- National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Catalog, ARC Identifier: 36034
- Internet Archive, 'Automatic Weapons: American vs. German' (TF 9-1172)
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.