Public Domain
The Jungle Book
1942 · Alexander Korda Films, Inc. / United Artists · Dir. Zoltan Korda
Mowgli, lost in the jungle when a toddler, raised by wolves, years later happens upon his human village and reconnects with its inhabitants, including his widowed mother. Continuing to maintain a relationship with the jungle, adventures follow.
Confidence
95
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The film was originally registered for copyright on April 6, 1942, under registration number LP11221 by Alexander Korda Films, Inc. Under the Copyright Act of 1909, works registered between 1928 and 1963 required a formal renewal with the US Copyright Office during the 28th year of their first term to maintain protection.
A search of the Stanford Copyright Renewal Database and the Library of Congress Catalog of Copyright Entries (CCE) reveals no renewal registration for this film. The copyright should have been renewed in 1969 or 1970 to extend protection for a second term. The failure to renew caused the film to enter the public domain in the United States upon the expiration of its initial 28-year term in 1970.
Because this is a US production that fell into the public domain due to non-renewal, it is not eligible for restoration under the 1996 URAA (which only applies to foreign works). The film is widely recognized in the industry as being in the public domain and has been released by numerous budget home video distributors specializing in PD material.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Stanford Copyright Renewal Database (Motion Pictures)
- Catalog of Copyright Entries, 1942, Motion Pictures: LP11221
- Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (1894-1939, 1940-1949 editions)
- Library of Congress Motion Picture Copyright Descriptions Collection
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.