Public Domain
The Curse of Greed
1914 · Majestic Motion Picture Company · Dir. Léonce Perret
A moneylender kidnaps the young son of a rich widow as part of a plot to cheat her of her fortune. The boy is sent away on a fishing boat with the intention of drowning him, but a kindly old fisherman intervenes.
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, 1928, have entered the public domain. This film, 'The Curse of Greed', was released in 1914 and falls well within this boundary.
According to the American Film Institute (AFI) Catalog of Feature Films and contemporary trade publications like 'The Moving Picture World', the film was produced by the Majestic Motion Picture Company and released on May 10, 1914. Because it was published more than 95 years ago (specifically 110 years ago), all copyright protections have expired regardless of any past renewal filings.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- U.S. Copyright Office, Circular 15a (Duration of Copyright)
- American Film Institute (AFI) Catalog of Feature Films, 1911-1920
- The Moving Picture World, Vol. 20 (May 1914)
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.