Protected
Witness for the Prosecution
1957 · United Artists · Dir. Billy Wilder
An ailing barrister is thrust back into the courtroom in what becomes one of the most unusual and eventful murder cases of the lawyer's career when he finds himself defending a man being tried for the murder of a socialite.
Confidence
100
— Legal Reasoning —
Why this status applies
Witness for the Prosecution was released in 1957 and registered for US copyright by Edward Small Productions, Inc. on December 31, 1957, under registration number LP9828. Under the law governing works from 1928–1963, a copyright must be renewed during the 28th year of the first term to remain protected.
A search of the Stanford Copyright Renewal Database and the Library of Congress records confirms that the copyright was successfully renewed on January 30, 1985, by UA Classics (a division of United Artists Corporation) under renewal number RE236355. Because it was a corporate work-for-hire, the film is protected for a term of 95 years from its original publication/registration date.
As a result of this valid renewal, the film's US copyright will not expire until December 31, 2052. The film is currently managed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) following their acquisition of the United Artists library.
— Cited Sources —
Supporting facts
- Stanford Copyright Renewal Database (RE236355)
- U.S. Copyright Office Catalog of Copyright Entries (LP9828)
- Hurst, Film Superlist: Motion Pictures in the U.S. Public Domain (Vol 3)
- AFI Catalog of Feature Films
Research summary based on cited sources, not legal advice. Always consult a qualified copyright attorney before commercial use.