Public Domain
Cabman Kate
1915 · Edison Manufacturing Co. · Dir. C.J. Williams
Kate, a washerwoman, takes Tim McGrath’s cab on security when he doesn’t pay his laundry bill. Trouble arises when Kate picks up her first passenger.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
Cabman Kate was a 1915 short film produced by the Edison Manufacturing Company and distributed by V-L-S-E, Inc. Under US copyright law, all works published before January 1, 1928, have entered the public domain regardless of whether they were originally registered or renewed.
Since this film was released in 1915, its maximum possible copyright term expired long ago. It entered the public domain 75 years after publication under the 1909 Act, a status that was subsequently reinforced by the expiration of all pre-1928 works in the United States. No further research into copyright renewals is necessary for this time period.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Library of Congress Catalog of Copyright Entries: Motion Pictures 1912-1939
- IMDb
- The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.