public domain
"Public domain" encompasses works and ideas not protected by intellectual property laws, allowing free use by anyone.
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Definition
C1Intellectual Property
(legal, academic)Creative works or inventions not protected by copyright, patent, or trademark laws, available for anyone to use without permission.
Example
- Shakespeare's plays are in the public domain and can be performed by anyone.
- The photograph taken by a U.S. federal employee is in the public domain.
B2General
(informal)Information, ideas, and works freely accessible and usable by the public.
Example
- The ancient myth is part of the public domain and can be retold without restriction.
C1Legal
(technical)The legal status of a work that is free for public use due to expired or inapplicable intellectual property rights.
Example
- The novel entered the public domain 70 years after the author's death.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "public domain":