Public Domain Items
Works that are in the public domain and are designated clearly as such are available for use by members of the Penn State community without permission. It is often very difficult to determine if something is in the public domain. For example, the copyright on the music and lyrics of a song may have expired, but a particular recording of that song may still be copyrighted. You must be certain that something you wish to use has come into the public domain through the expiration of its copyright or has been placed in the public domain by its creator. For information on determining the public domain status of a particular work, contact a member of the Penn State professional library staff.