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PUBLIC DOMAIN FYI
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Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm poster
Public Domain

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

1917 · Mary Pickford Film Corporation / Artcraft Pictures Corp. · Dir. Marshall Neilan

Behind in the mortgage on Sunnybrook Farm and barely managing to feed seven hungry mouths, mother sends young Rebecca off to Riverboro to be raised by her wealthy Aunt Miranda. The little girl is treated like a prisoner by her strict Aunt, yet she gamely does her best to get an education. When spoiled girls at school mock the spirited Rebecca as "missy poor-house," she soon makes them come to eat their words. Despite many difficulties, Rebecca manages to help the less fortunate and spread joy in Riverboro, dreaming that her reward will come when she is "all growed up." This version is notable for having been adapted by famed female screenwriter Frances Marion.

Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —

Why this status applies

The film 'Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm' (1917), starring Mary Pickford and directed by Marshall Neilan, is definitively in the public domain in the United States. Under current US copyright law, all works published before January 1, 1928, have seen their copyright terms expire. This film was originally registered for copyright on September 13, 1917 (registration number LP11413) by the Mary Pickford Film Corporation. Even if the copyright had been renewed in its 28th year (which would have occurred in 1944 or 1945), the maximum possible protection for works of this era was 95 years from the date of publication. This protection period would have expired no later than the end of 2012. As of January 1, 2024, all films from 1928 and earlier are legally part of the public domain regardless of renewal status.
— Cited Sources —

Supporting facts

  • Library of Congress Catalog of Copyright Entries: Motion Pictures 1912-1939
  • Stanford University Copyright Renewal Database
  • AFI Catalog of Feature Films (1893-1993)
  • 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.