Which condition qualifies a work as abandoned and in the public domain?

• A. Works made over 25 years ago under old copyright laws and wasn't renewed
• B. Works created by a living author
• C. Works still under copyright
• D. Works published in the last year

Answer: (A)

Public domain status comes from expiration of copyright term, not from any notion of “abandonment.” Under older copyright laws, a work received an initial term—historically about 28 years—with a possible renewal for a second term. If the renewal wasn’t filed, the work entered the public domain when the term ended. So a work created more than 25 years ago under those old rules and not renewed would indeed be in the public domain because protection expired. The other options describe works still under protection: a living author typically means ongoing copyright, a recently published work is still protected, and a living author’s work could still have renewal rights.