Public Domain
The Mark of Zorro
1920 · United Artists · Dir. Fred Niblo
Don Diego Vega pretends to be an indolent fop as a cover for his true identity, the masked avenger Zorro. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2012.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The film was released in 1920, starring Douglas Fairbanks. Under the current copyright laws of the United States, all works published before January 1, 1929, have entered the public domain regardless of whether they were originally registered or renewed.
The 95-year copyright term for works published in 1920 expired on January 1, 1916. As this film is well past the 95-year threshold for corporate-owned works or works for hire established by the Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998, its status is definitively public domain in the US.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.