Public Domain
Mabel Lost and Won
1915 · Keystone Film Company · Dir. Mack Sennett
Mabel has just gotten engaged during a housewarming party of which her mother is the hostess. When an annoying party guest persuades Mabel to dance with him, Mabel hurries through the dance and then goes to look for her fiancé, only to discover him caressing another woman. Her fiancé finds not only Mabel, but also her mother, very displeased, and not inclined to believe his explanation.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
Under the current United States copyright law (specifically the 1976 Act as amended), all works published or registered before January 1, 1928, have entered the public domain. This film, starring Mabel Normand and directed by Frank Griffin, was released in mid-1915 by the Keystone Film Company.
Since the film was published in 1915, its maximum term of protection (95 years for corporate works) expired at the end of 2010. Therefore, it is definitively in the public domain regardless of whether it was originally registered or renewed at the time of its 28-year midpoint. The film's early 20th-century release date places it safely within the pre-1928 window for expired copyright.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- U.S. Copyright Office, Circular 15a: Duration of Copyright
- IMDb: Mabel Lost and Won (1915) starring Mabel Normand
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films (1911-1920)
- Hurst, Richard Maurice. Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (1894-1939)
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.