Public Domain
California Straight Ahead!
1925 · Universal Pictures · Dir. Harry A. Pollard
Wealthy racing driver Tom Hayden loses his inheritance and his fiancé due to a wacky mishap on his wedding day.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
California Straight Ahead! (directed by Harry A. Pollard and starring Reginald Denny) was released in 1925. Under US copyright law, all works published before January 1, 1928, have entered the public domain regardless of whether their copyright was ever renewed.
The film was originally registered for copyright by Universal Pictures on August 10, 1925 (LP21715). However, because it was published 99 years ago, any original or renewal terms have expired. The work is now in the public domain in the United States by operation of law (17 U.S.C. § 304).
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Library of Congress Catalog of Copyright Entries (CCE), Motion Pictures 1912-1939
- Stanford Copyright Renewal Database
- 17 U.S.C. § 304 (Copyright Act of 1976 and subsequent amendments regarding pre-1928 works)
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.