ABSTRACT
Filmmakers wanting to use material protected under intellectual property laws, as described in the previous chapter, will generally need to seek permission and perhaps pay a fee for that use. In some circumstances, fi lmmakers in the United States may claim the fair use exception to copyright (Chapter 14). And in some cases, as described in this chapter, there is no need to seek permission because the material is not, or is no longer, protected by intellectual property laws. When this happens, and there are no copyright, trademark, or patent restrictions involved, the material is described as being in the public domain. The public has free access to use and reuse the intellectual property contained in the material ad infi nitum. Not only can you incorporate the material or elements of it into your new work (or works), but others can too-the right is nonexclusive.
