Public Domain
One Too Many
1916 · Vim Comedy Company · Dir. Will Louis
When his uncle arrives for a visit, Plump has to find a wife and baby in a hurry. With the help of his friend, Runt, soon there are wives and babies everywhere.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The film 'One Too Many' (1916) is a US comedy short starring Oliver Hardy and Bobby Burns, produced by the Vim Comedy Company. Under the US Copyright Act of 1909 and its subsequent amendments, all works published or registered in the United States prior to January 1, 1928, have entered the public domain regardless of whether they were renewed.
Since this film was released in 1916, its initial 28-year copyright term would have expired in 1944. Even if it had been renewed for a second term, the maximum possible protection under law for works of this era has already lapsed (the current maximum duration for pre-1978 works is 95 years from publication). Therefore, this work became part of the public domain on January 1, 1991, at the latest.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- U.S. Copyright Office, Circular 15A (Duration of Copyright)
- IMDb: One Too Many (1916)
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films (Vim Comedy Co. records)
- Hurst, Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.