Public Domain
Palace of Electricity
1900 · Edison Manufacturing Co. · Dir. James H. White
A panoramic shot, making a full circle, at the 1900 Paris Exposition. It begins and ends looking at the front of the Palace of Electricity. As it pans, first we see a workman hosing down the promenade. Men and women walk past, all wearing hats. We see the base of the Eiffel Tower, which the Palace faces. A couple strolls. A mother and daughter walk passed, father is slightly ahead wearing a boater. Three men in uniform walk toward the camera as it comes to a stop facing the Palace.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The film 'Palace of Electricity' was produced by the Edison Manufacturing Co. and released in 1900. It depicts the electrical exhibit at the 1900 Paris Exposition. As a work first published and registered for copyright in the United States before January 1, 1928, it passed into the public domain upon the expiration of its maximum 75-year term under the 1909 Copyright Act (as extended by the 1976 Act).
Under current US law, all works published before 1928 are definitively in the public domain regardless of renewal status or authorship. This specific film is archived by the Library of Congress and is part of their Paper Print Collection, further confirming its historical status and the expiration of its copyright protection.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Library of Congress - Paper Print Collection
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films
- U Penn Catalog of Copyright Entries
- 17 U.S.C. § 304
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.