Protected
Bad Day at Black Rock
1955 · Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) · Dir. John Sturges
One-armed war veteran John J. Macreedy steps off a train at the sleepy little town of Black Rock. Once there, he begins to unravel a web of lies, secrecy, and murder.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The film was released in 1955 by Loew's, Inc. (MGM). Under the copyright laws in effect at the time, works were granted an initial 28-year term of protection, which required a formal renewal during the 28th year to extend protection to the full 95-year term.
A search of the Stanford Copyright Renewal Database and the Library of Congress records confirms that the copyright for 'Bad Day at Black Rock' was successfully renewed in 1982 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Film Co. (Renewal Registration Number RE0000142839, dated 1982-12-16). The original registration was LP0000004383, registered on 1954-12-20. Due to this valid renewal, the film is protected by copyright in the United States until 95 years from its publication date, expiring on January 1, 2051.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Stanford Copyright Renewal Database (RE142839)
- U.S. Copyright Office Online Catalog (COcatalog.loc.gov)
- Hurst, D. Richard Baer, Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (Reference for 1950-1959 renewals)
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films (Entry 51421)
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.