public domain
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public domain
noun Law.
1.
the status of a literary work or an invention whose copyright or patent has expired or that never had such protection.
2.
land owned by the government.
Origin:
1825–35, Americanism
1825–35, Americanism
Related forms
pub·lic-do·main, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To public domain
Collins
World English Dictionary
| public domain | |
| —n | |
| 1. | (US) lands owned by a state or by the federal government |
| 2. | the status of a published work or invention upon which the copyright or patent has expired or which has not been patented or subject to copyright. It may thus be freely used by the public |
| 3. | in the public domain able to be discussed and examined freely by the general public |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
00:10
Public domain
is always a great word to know.
So is bezoar. Does it mean:
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
FOLDOC
Computing Dictionary
public domain definition
(PD) The total absence of copyright protection. If something is "in the public domain" then anyone can copy it or use it in any way they wish. The author has none of the exclusive rights which apply to a copyright work.
The phrase "public domain" is often used incorrectly to refer to freeware or shareware (software which is copyrighted but is distributed without (advance) payment). Public domain means no copyright -- no exclusive rights. In fact the phrase "public domain" has no legal status at all in the UK.
See also archive site, careware, charityware, copyleft, crippleware, guiltware, postcardware and -ware. Compare payware.
Example sentences
There are websites where you can download free audio books from the public domain.
The public domain has been cheated for years by ill-advised expansions of intellectual property rights.
These images are in the public domain and may be reproduced, free of charge with the proper credit line.
If a company doesn't vigorously defend it's intellectual property, it quickly belongs to the public domain.
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