Public Domain
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
1916 · Triangle Film Corporation · Dir. D.W. Griffith
The story of a poor young woman, separated by prejudice from her husband and baby, is interwoven with tales of intolerance from throughout history.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
Under the current copyright laws of the United States, all works published or registered before January 1, 1929, have entered the public domain. Intolerance, directed by D.W. Griffith, was released in September 1916 and registered for copyright in the same year.
Even if the film had been renewed (which occurred in 1944 by the D.W. Griffith Corporation under registration R133742), the maximum possible term for works of this era was 95 years from publication. Consequently, the copyright expired no later than the end of 2011. As a result, the film is free for use, distribution, and adaptation without permission from the original estate or studio.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- U.S. Copyright Office, Catalog of Copyright Entries: Motion Pictures 1912–1939
- Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (1894-1939)
- Hirtle, Peter B. 'Copyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States'
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films: Intolerance (1916)
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.