Public Domain
Hearts of the World
1918 · D.W. Griffith Inc. · Dir. D.W. Griffith
A group of youngsters grow up and love in a peaceful French village. But war intrudes and peace is shattered. The German army invades and occupies village, bringing both destruction and torture. The young people of the village resist, some successfully, others tragically, until French troops retake the town.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
Under the terms of the Copyright Act of 1976 and subsequent extensions (specifically the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act), all works published or registered for copyright in the United States prior to January 1, 1928, have entered the public domain. D.W. Griffith's 'Hearts of the World' was originally released in 1918 and copyrighted that same year (Registration LP12204, April 12, 1918).
Because the film was published more than 95 years ago and falls before the 1928 cutoff, its copyright protection has expired as a matter of law. No renewal status search is necessary for works from this era, as the maximum possible term (95 years from publication) for a 1918 work expired at the end of 2013.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.