Public Domain
Black Cyclone
1925 · Hal Roach Studios · Dir. Fred Jackman
A cowboy and a wild horse find they have some things in common: both have enemies out to get them and both must save their mates from danger.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The film 'Black Cyclone,' starring the horse Rex the Wonder Horse and directed by Fred Jackman, was released on March 15, 1925. Under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1909 and the subsequent 1976 and 1998 extensions, all works published in the United States before January 1, 1928, have entered the public domain. This occurs because the maximum possible term for works of this era was 95 years from publication.
Since 'Black Cyclone' was published in 1925, its copyright term expired no later than the end of 2020. Consequently, regardless of whether a renewal was filed with the U.S. Copyright Office during the 28th year of its initial term (which would have been approximately 1953), the film is now legally in the public domain in the United States. No further search of the Catalog of Copyright Entries or the Stanford Renewal Database is required to confirm this status for works published prior to 1928.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films: Black Cyclone (1925)
- IMDb: Black Cyclone (1925)
- 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.