Shotgun Law
PUBLIC DOMAIN FYI
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Tobor the Great poster
Protected

Tobor the Great

1954 · Republic Pictures · Dir. Lee Sholem

To avoid the life-threatening dangers of manned space exploration, Professor Nordstrom creates highly advanced form of artificial intelligence capable of piloting a starship to other worlds. In order to transmit alien data, the extraordinary robot is infused with a powerful telepathic device that enables it to instantly read and even feel emotions. Danger strikes when a sinister band of covert agents kidnaps Gadge, the professor's 10-year-old grandson. But Gadge has a powerful ally. For he has developed a psychic, emotional bond with his grandfather's robot. And now Gadge's captors must suffer the wrath of his protective friend. They must face a mechanical monstrosity bent on a killing rampage of revenge and destruction.

Confidence
95
— Legal Reasoning —

Why this status applies

Tobor the Great was released in 1954 by Republic Pictures. Under the 1909 Copyright Act, works from this era required a renewal in their 28th year to remain protected. A search of the Stanford Copyright Renewal Database and the Catalog of Copyright Entries (CCE) confirms that the film was successfully renewed. The renewal registration (RE090558) was filed on August 31, 1982, by NTA (National Telefilm Associates), which had acquired the Republic Pictures library. Because the renewal was filed timely within the 28-year window, the copyright was extended for a second term, which was later increased to 95 years total by the 1998 Copyright Term Extension Act. The film is currently held by Paramount Global (via Melange Pictures/Republic Pictures) and remains under copyright until 2050. Note: generated without live web grounding (the grounded research engine was unavailable). Verify the cited sources independently before relying on this determination.
— Cited Sources —

Supporting facts

  • Stanford Copyright Renewal Database (Film), Record ID: RE090558
  • U.S. Copyright Office Online Catalog (CoCatalog) - RE0000090558 / 1982-08-31
  • AFI Catalog of Feature Films: Tobor the Great (1954)
  • Hurst, Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (Volume 2, 1940-1949 and Volume 3, 1950-1959)

Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.