Public Domain
Our Hospitality
1923 · Buster Keaton Productions / Joseph M. Schenck Productions · Dir. John G. Blystone
A young man falls for a young woman on his trip home; unbeknownst to him, her family has vowed to kill every member of his family.
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. This film was released on November 19, 1923, and was originally registered for copyright by Joseph M. Schenck (LP19702).
Even if the film had been properly renewed in its 28th year (which would have occurred in 1951), the maximum possible duration of copyright protection for works from 1923 was 95 years from publication. Consequently, the copyright for 'Our Hospitality' expired at the end of 2018. As of January 1, 1919, the film became part of the public domain in the U.S. along with other works from 1923.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- U.S. Copyright Office, Catalog of Copyright Entries: Motion Pictures 1912-1939
- Stanford University Copyright Renewal Database
- 17 U.S.C. § 304 (Duration of Copyright)
- BFI National Archive record for Our Hospitality (1923)
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.