Public Domain
Somebody Lied
1917 · Christie Film Company · Dir. Ben F. Wilson
Perfect angel Willie declines to accompany his doting wife Dolly to a mask ball, but instead of a quiet evening at home among his books, Willie spends the night at an underground casino, and instead of being chaperoned at the party, Dolly is out flirting with another man.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The film 'Somebody Lied' was a one-reel comedy directed by Al Christie and released on March 26, 1917. As a film published in the United States prior to January 1, 1928, it has entered the public domain automatically upon the expiration of its maximum 95-year statutory term.
Under current US copyright law, all works published before 1928 have lost their copyright protection regardless of whether they were originally registered or renewed. This film fell into the public domain on January 1, 1993 (at the end of its 75-year term under the 1976 Act, prior to the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act which only extended the life of works still under copyright as of 1998).
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Library of Congress Catalog of Copyright Entries (CCE): Motion Pictures 1912-1939
- IMDb: Somebody Lied (1917)
- The American Film Institute (AFI) Catalog of Motion Pictures
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.