Public Domain
The Pet
1921 · Winsor McCay · Dir. Winsor McCay
After eating a rarebit, a man falls asleep and dreams his wife adopts a mysterious animal with an insatiable appetite. The pet eats its milk, the house cat, the house's furnishings, rat poison, and passing vehicles, including airplanes and a blimp, while growing larger and larger. This cartoon is part of a Dream trilogy animated by Winsor McCay in 1921. (CBGP)
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
Under current US copyright law, all works published before January 1, 1929, have entered the public domain. 'The Pet' (alternatively known as 'Dreams of the Rarebit Fiend: The Pet') is a short animated film by Winsor McCay released in 1921. Because this film was published prior to the 1929 cutoff, its copyright protection has expired regardless of whether it was registered or renewed at the time.
Even if the pre-1929 rule did not apply, McCay's films from this era frequently lapsed into the public domain due to the failure of his estate to renew copyrights for early 20th-century shorts. However, the date of publication (1921) provides a definitive legal basis for public domain status under the 'copyright term extension act' (CTEA) guidelines, which currently protect works for a maximum of 95 years from publication, all of which have elapsed for 1921 releases.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- https://archive.org/details/ThePet1921
- https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/complete-admissions-list/
- Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (1894-1939)
- Wikipedia: The Pet (1921 film)
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.