Public Domain
The Jazz Band Leader
1913 · Keystone Film Company · Dir. Mack Sennett
Professor Smelts the band leader gets into a romantic rivalry with one of his musicians over the affections of a pretty girl.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The Jazz Band Leader (1913), directed by Mack Sennett and starring Ford Sterling, was released in the United States on December 29, 1913. As a motion picture published before January 1, 1928, it transitioned into the public domain in the United States upon the expiration of its maximum copyright term.
Under the Copyright Act of 1909 and subsequent extensions, works published prior to 1928 have exhausted all possible terms of protection. Consequently, the film is free for public use, performance, and distribution without the need for licensing from a copyright holder. No renewal search is required for works of this vintage as they pre-date the 'window' of 1928–1963.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films: The Jazz Band Leader (1913)
- Brent Walker, Mack Sennett's Fun Factory (2010)
- Library of Congress, Motion Picture Copyright Descriptions Collection, 1894-1959
- 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.