Public Domain

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One source of material that can be copied into Lunarpedia is the set of works in the public domain. Published material is part of the public domain if it is not subject to intellectual property laws by its nature, if the copyright has expired, or if the copyright has been forfeited. Examples include the natural languages of peoples, Aristotelian logic, as well as the Christian bible and the patents for the Edison phonograph. Works written about these subjects can be copyrighted.[1]

Public domain refers to information and published works that are available to anyone, however, intellectual property law covers copyright, patents and trademarks. Public domain refers to ideas, information and works which are not subject to private ownership and which all people can use.[2]

References

  1. Boyle, James (2008). The Public Domain: Enclosing the Commons of the Mind. CSPD. pp. 38. ISBN 0300137400, 9780300137408. http://www.google.com/books?id=Fn1Pl9Gv_EMC&dq=public+domain&source=gbs_navlinks_s.
  2. Graber, Christoph Beat; and Mira Burri Nenova (2008). Intellectual Property and Traditional Cultural Expressions in a digital environment. Edward Elgar Publishing. pp. 173. ISBN 1847209211, 9781847209214. http://www.google.com/books?id=gK6OI0hrANsC&dq=%22public+domain%22+intellectual+property&lr=&as_brr=3&source=gbs_navlinks_s.