Public Domain
The Rivals
1907 · Edison Manufacturing Co. · Dir. Edwin S. Porter
Chollie and George compete for a young woman's affection, using trickery and sabotage.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The film 'The Rivals' was produced by the Edison Manufacturing Company and released in August 1907. Under US copyright law, any work published or registered before January 1, 1928, has entered the public domain due to the expiration of its maximum copyright term.
At the time of its release, the maximum duration of copyright protection was 42 years (an initial 28-year term plus a 14-year renewal). Even under subsequent extensions provided by the Copyright Act of 1976 and the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act, works from 1907 have long since exceeded the 95-year statutory limit for corporate authorship. Consequently, this film became part of the public domain no later than the end of 1982.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films: The Rivals (1907)
- Library of Congress, Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (Film Superlist)
- 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.