Public Domain
The Rag Man
1925 · Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) · Dir. Edward F. Cline
Tim Kelly is an orphan who runs away after his orphanage burns down. Presumed to be killed in the fire, he is able to roam the streets of New York City freely. He meets Max Ginsberg, an old Jewish junk dealer with rheumatism, and the two strike a partnership and a close friendship.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The film 'The Rag Man,' starring Jackie Coogan, was released in the United States on February 16, 1925. Under the Copyright Act of 1909 and the subsequent Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998, all works published or registered in the United States prior to January 1, 1928, have entered the public domain regardless of whether their copyrights were renewed.
Because the film was published in 1925, its maximum possible term of protection was 95 years, which expired on January 1, 2021. As of 2024, the film is definitively in the public domain in the United States due to the expiration of its copyright term. This applies to the original cinematic work as released by Metro-Goldwyn Pictures.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Library of Congress Catalog of Copyright Entries
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films (The Rag Man, 1925)
- Hurst / D. Richard Baer, Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain
- 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.