Public Domain
Shep's Race with Death
1914 · Thanhouser Film Corporation · Dir. Jack Harvey
The simple story of a heroic dog that saves the day appealed to audiences (especially with a well-trained animal as attractive and energetic as Shep), and became a movie staple for generations.
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, directed by Jack Harvey and featuring the famous canine actor 'Shep the Thanhouser Dog,' was released on November 1, 1914.
Because the film was released well before the 1929 cutoff, its copyright protection has expired by operation of law. No renewal search is necessary for works from this era as their maximum possible term (then 75 years, later 95 years) has lapsed. The film is now free for public use, and several archives, including the Thanhouser Film Corporation Research Center, maintain records of its release and content.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Thanhouser Film Corporation Research Center (thanhouser.org)
- IMDb: Shep's Race with Death (1914)
- 17 U.S.C. § 304 (Duration of Copyright)
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.