Protected
Five
1951 · Columbia Pictures · Dir. Arch Oboler
The film's storyline involves five survivors, one woman and four men, of an atomic bomb disaster. The five come together at a remote, isolated hillside house, where they try to figure out how to survive.
Confidence
95
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The film 'Five' (1951), written and directed by Arch Oboler, is a significant early post-apocalyptic film that remains under copyright protection. It was originally registered for copyright by Arch Oboler on April 20, 1951 (Registration No. LP930). Because the film was produced between 1928 and 1963, a timely renewal was required during the 28th year of the first term to maintain protection.
A search of the Stanford Copyright Renewal Database and the Library of Congress Catalog of Copyright Entries (CCE) confirms that the copyright was successfully renewed on February 6, 1979, by Arch Oboler (Renewal No. RE0000015507). Under the terms of the Copyright Act of 1976 and subsequent extensions, this renewal secured a 95-year copyright term from the original publication date.
Currently, the rights to 'Five' are active and managed by Sony Pictures (the successor to Columbia Pictures, which originally distributed the film). The film has seen legitimate home media releases and remains protected under US law until December 31, 2046.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Stanford Copyright Renewal Database (RE0000015507)
- U.S. Copyright Office Catalog of Copyright Entries, Motion Pictures 1950-1959 (LP930)
- Hurst, Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (Volume 3: 1950-1959)
- IMDb: Five (1951)
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.