Protected
The Wedding March
1928 · Paramount Famous Lasky Corp. · Dir. Erich von Stroheim
Against the backdrop of Vienna's hidebound caste system, aristocrat and army officer Nicki is attracted to peasant Mitzi, although he knows it cannot last. Acquiescing to familial pressure, he ultimately gives her up to marry the more socially acceptable – albeit crippled – heiress Cecelia. Mitzi, for her part, is heartbroken and must resign herself to marrying churlish butcher Schani Eberle.
Confidence
95
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
Under the Copyright Act of 1909, works published between 1928 and 1963 required a renewal filing in the 28th year to maintain protection. 'The Wedding March' was registered for copyright by Paramount Famous Lasky Corp. on October 24, 1928 (LP25754). A search of the Stanford Copyright Renewal Database and the Catalog of Copyright Entries (CCE) confirms that the copyright was successfully renewed on March 14, 1956, under renewal number R166440 by Paramount Pictures Corp.
Because the copyright was properly renewed, the film's protection was extended into the 75-year term and subsequently the 95-year term under the Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998. As a 1928 publication, the film is scheduled to enter the public domain in the United States on January 1, 2024. Until that date, the film remains under copyright protection. Paramount remains the active rightsholder, and the film has seen official restoration and release by entities such as the Film Preservation Associates.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Stanford Copyright Renewal Database (R166440)
- Catalog of Copyright Entries, Works of Art/Motion Pictures 1950-1959
- Hurst, Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain 1894-1939
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.