Protected
The Undercover Man
1949 · Columbia Pictures · Dir. Joseph H. Lewis
Frank Warren is a treasury agent assigned to put an end to the activities of a powerful mob crime boss. Frank works undercover, posing as a criminal to seek information, but is frustrated when all he finds are terrified witnesses and corrupt police officers.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
The Undercover Man, directed by Joseph H. Lewis and starring Glenn Ford, was released by Columbia Pictures in 1949. A search of the US Copyright Office records and the Stanford Copyright Renewal Database confirms that the film was originally registered for copyright on April 6, 1949, under registration number LP2239.
Because the film was released between 1928 and 1963, it required a manual renewal in its 28th year to maintain protection. The records show that Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. filed a valid renewal application on October 22, 1976 (renewal number R644618). As a result of this timely renewal, the film's copyright was extended for a total term of 95 years from the date of publication. It is currently under copyright protection and will not enter the public domain in the US until January 1, 2045.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Stanford Copyright Renewal Database (Film)
- Catalog of Copyright Entries: Motion Pictures 1940-1949
- IMDb: The Undercover Man (1949)
- Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (Hurst/Baer)
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.