Public Domain
The Miller's Daughter
1905 · Edison Manufacturing Company · Dir. Edwin S. Porter
Hazel, the miller's daughter, is courted by a country boy and a sophisticated city boy. Her father favors the country boy, but she elopes with the city boy. Before they can marry, his wife shows up and stops the ceremony. Hazel tries to return to her father, but he has disowned her. She jumps into the river, but is rescued by the country boy, who later marries her.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The film 'The Miller's Daughter' was produced by the Edison Manufacturing Company and released in October 1905 (directed by Edwin S. Porter and Wallace McCutcheon). Under current US copyright law, all works published before January 1, 1929, have entered the public domain regardless of renewal status.
At the time of its release, the maximum term of copyright protection available was 42 years (an initial 28-year term plus a 14-year renewal). Even if all extensions had been applied, the copyright would have expired by 1947. Furthermore, since the film was published more than 95 years ago, it is definitively in the public domain in the United States.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films (1893-1910)
- Library of Congress: Paper Print Collection
- 17 U.S.C. § 304 (Duration of Copyright)
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.