Please note: This article only refers to public domain works of the United States.
Works are considered in the public domain when they are no longer protected by copyright law, either due to the copyright expiring, the rightsholder placing it in the public domain, or the works themselves pre-dating the existence of copyrights.
Anyone can use a public domain work without obtaining permission, because it is “owned” by the public. However, you should only be registering public domain works through The MLC if you have created your own unique arrangement. Otherwise, The MLC does not pay royalties on public domain works.
Registering your own arrangement of a public domain work
You can register the work with the original writer name listed in the Composer/Author or Composer writer role (no writer IPI is needed) and credit yourself in the Arranger writer role.
- If the original writer is unknown, you can list "Public Domain" for the Composer/Author or Composer writer role and credit yourself for the Arranger writer role.
In The MLC Public Work Search, public domain works will have a blue tag that reads "Public Domain" unless the work is registered as a unique arrangement.
Reminder: royalties are not allocated or paid to identified public domain works.