Public Domain
The Hero Of Liao Yang
1904 · American Mutoscope and Biograph Company
Several Japanese youths are playing various games and enjoying some refreshments outdoors when a military courier arrives. The messenger asks for one of the young men, and gives him his orders. The young man puts on his uniform, leaves home, and reports to a unit in the field, where preparations are being made for a battle against the Russians. The young soldier is then sent on a dangerous but important mission.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The Hero of Liao Yang was produced in 1904 by the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company and cinematographed by G.W. 'Billy' Bitzer. Under the US copyright laws in effect at the time, all works published or registered before January 1, 1928, have entered the public domain regardless of renewal status.
Even if the maximum duration of copyright protection (95 years from publication) were applied to this 1904 work, it would have expired in 1999. Furthermore, any original registrations from 1904 would have required a renewal in their 28th year (1932), which would have extended protection only through the 1960s or 1970s. As it stands, the 1928 cutoff is the definitive boundary, placing this film firmly in the public domain.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films
- Library of Congress: Motion Pictures From the Library of Congress Paper Print Collection 1894-1912 (Kemp Niver)
- Internet Movie Database (IMDb)
- U. Penn Online Catalog of Copyright Entries
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.