Protected
Death Machines
1976 · Crown International Pictures · Dir. Paul Kyriazi
Madame Lu has created three "Death Machines," a trio of martial arts experts who have been injected with a special serum, turning them into mindless zombies, capable only of murder, at Lu's command. Tasked with eliminating her enemies, the Death Machines go on a blood-soaked rampage, killing anyone in their path. After they massacre an entire dojo, leaving only one survivor, the Death Machines and Madame Lu herself become the targets of his vengeance...
Confidence
95
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
Death Machines was released in 1976, placing it under the 1909 Copyright Act. For works published between 1964 and 1977, renewal is automatic under the Copyright Renewal Act of 1992. Therefore, the film remains protected for 95 years from its publication date provided it was published with a valid copyright notice.
Primary records confirm a valid US copyright registration was filed by Crown International Pictures on June 29, 1976 (Registration Number LP46535). Because a registration was secured during the first term and the 1992 Act granted automatic renewal for films of this vintage, the title is currently under copyright protection in the United States and will not enter the public domain until January 1, 2072. The film continues to be actively licensed and distributed by rights holders (e.g., Scorpion Releasing and Vinegar Syndrome), further confirming its protected status.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Catalog of Copyright Entries: Motion Pictures and Filmstrips 1970-1979
- U.S. Copyright Office Online Database (Ref: LP46535)
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films
- Stanford Copyright Renewal Database
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.