Public Domain
Pan-American Exposition by Night
1901 · Edison Manufacturing Co. · Dir. James Blair Smith
A great feature of the Pan-American Exposition, as unanimously conceded by all visitors, was the electric illumination of the Exposition grounds at night. After a great deal of experimenting and patience, we succeeded in securing an excellent picture of the buildings at the Pan-American as they appeared when lighted up at night.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
This short film, produced by the Edison Manufacturing Co. and filmed by Edwin S. Porter, documents the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. It was registered for copyright by Thomas A. Edison on June 15, 1901 (registration number H5547).
Under the current laws of the United States, all works published before January 1, 1929, have entered the public domain. As a 1901 release, the film's copyright has expired regardless of whether it was renewed (though renewals were not required for this era's 28-year terms until the 1909 Act and its subsequent extensions). It is currently held and preserved by the Library of Congress and is freely available for public use.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Library of Congress (Catalog of Copyright Entries: Motion Pictures 1894-1912)
- IMDb (Pan-American Exposition by Night)
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films (Early Cinema records)
- U.S. Copyright Office - Circular 15a (Duration of Copyright)
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.