Public Domain
Granddad
1913 · Kay-Bee Pictures / Broncho Billy Film Company · Dir. Jay Hunt
Mildred is staying with her grandfather, Civil War veteran Jabez Burr, when she receives a letter from her father. Her father has re-married, and will be bringing his new wife home soon. But when Mildred's stepmother finds out that Jabez drinks, she takes a dislike to him, and begins to resent his closeness with Mildred...
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The film 'Granddad' is a silent drama directed by Thomas H. Ince and starring William Desmond Taylor. It was released in the United States on July 23, 1913. Under the Copyright Act of 1909 and the subsequent Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act, all works published or registered in the United States prior to January 1, 1928, have entered the public domain.
As a 1913 production, even if the copyright had been properly registered and renewed (providing a maximum 75-year term under the 1976 Act), the protection would have expired no later than the end of 1988. Following the 1998 extension, works from 1923 and earlier were already in the public domain. Therefore, 'Granddad' is definitively in the public domain in the United States due to the expiration of its statutory term.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Library of Congress, Catalog of Copyright Entries: Motion Pictures 1912-1939
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films (1911-1920)
- Wikipedia: List of films in the public domain in the United States
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.