Copyright
Copyright Best Practices
Find Copyright Information
You can investigate copyright status or ownership using these free tools. Start with the one that best fits your question.
💡 Tip: Older books published before 1929 are almost always in the public domain.
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U.S. Copyright Public Records PortalStart here to search U.S. copyright records, request certified copies, or explore how to access public records held by the Copyright Office.
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Cornell Public Domain ChartBreaks down U.S. copyright duration by publication year.
💡 Use this chart if you have a publication date and want to check public domain status. -
HathiTrustLimit search to public domain by selecting "full view only" or year of publication.
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Internet ArchiveTexts, video and audio recordings and The Way Back Machine, the largest repository of archived web pages.
Tools for Researching Copyright
If you’re having trouble tracking down copyright information or interpreting what you find, we can help.
💡 Tip: We can help you locate information, but we cannot provide legal advice.
- Last Updated: Aug 13, 2025 6:03 PM
- URL: https://library.nwacc.edu/copyright
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