Public Domain Resources University Pubishing Copyright
 
Getting PermissionTEACH ActFair Use
Home
What Copyright Protects
What Copyright Does Not Protect
How Copyright Protects
Public Domain and Duration of Copyrights
Music and Copyright
Internet and Copyright
Library and Copyright
Public Domain Chart
Public Domain Resources
 

Public Domain Resources
The sites listed below are intended as an alternative source for materials for use in personal websites or any other use. Materials or works in the public domain are not subject to copyright law. As such, no permission is needed before downloading. Hopefully, this one-stop-shopping list of compiled public domain sources will assist people seeking content from the Internet so they may be less likely to download materials from other sources in violation of copyright laws.

The following are sites purporting to contain databases of text, images, graphics, fonts, photos, sheet music and videos that are in the public domain. Although the materials at these sites are believed to be in the public domain, it is not possible to make that determination for all materials at the sites. Therefore they are provided with the following disclaimer:

 
Secondary Menu Copyright MissionCopyright Law Book Order FormUniversity PublishingSite Index
 
 


There are no warranties, implied or otherwise, regarding:

  1. The fitness for a particular purpose of any materials or works in the respective collections of the sites (“materials or works”);
  2. The originality or accuracy of the materials or works, nor freedom from corruption either intentional or accidental; and
  3. Compliance of copyright or other intellectual property laws by the materials or works. By accessing the sites compiled here, you agree to use the materials or works at these sites at your sole risk.

Text Content:

  1. Books, literature – http://promo.net/pg/index.html
  2. Books that can be read online – http://digital.library.upenn.edu/books/
  3. Aesop’s Fables – www.pacificnet.net/~johnr/aesop/
  4. Books on the Web – http://people.redhat.com/johnsonm/books.html
  5. Various philosophy (Plato, Aristotle, Conrad, Dostoevsky) – www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/3963/
  6. List of books known to be in public domain – www.cs.indiana.edu/metastuff/bookfaq.html#8
  7. Variety of books in the public domain – www.bartleby.com/
  8. Modern English collection – www.hti.umich.edu/p/pd-modeng/
  9. “Jargon File” hacker slang and tradition – www.tuxedo.org/~esr/jargon/jargon.html
  10. Archive of text to classical art songs – www.recmusic.org/lieder/
  11. Christian classics – www.ccel.org/
  12. Complete works of Shakespeare – http://the-tech.mit.edu/Shakespeare/works.html
  13. Historical documents (Western Europe)* – http://library.byu.edu/~rdh/eurodocs/
  14. Lutheran Church works(“Project Wittenberg”) – www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/
    wittenberg-home.html
  15. Latin Vulgate Bible – gopher://ftp.std.com/11/obi/book/Religion/Vulgate
  16. G.K. Chesterton works and biography*– www.dur.ac.uk/~dcs6mpw/gkc/index.html
  17. A beginner’s guide to effective email – www.webfoot.com/advice/email.top.html

Photos or Images

  1. “Inexpensive” and free samples – http://www.pdimages.com/
  2. Miscellaneous art clips (free) – www.clippix.com/
  3. Web graphics (icons and backgrounds) – www.specialweb.com/original/
  4. Government photos (animals, scenery, miscellaneous nature) – www.photolib.noaa.gov/index.html and http://pictures.fws.gov/
  5. Background samples – http://wp.netscape.com/assist/net_sites/bg/backgrounds.html
  6. Photo archive – http://gimp-savvy.com/PHOTO-ARCHIVE/
  7. Clip art universe – www.nzwwa.com/mirror/clipart/
  8. Celtic clip art – www.fortunecity.com/bally/tipperary/41/clipart.html
  9. Inki’s Clipart – www.inki.com/clipart/
  10. Tornado images – www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/torscans.html
  11. Images of American political history – http://teachpol.tcnj.edu/amer_pol_hist/
  12. Maps1 – www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/index.html
  13. Images in the public domain – www.sru.edu/depts/cisba/compsci/dailey/public/public_domain.htm
  14. Oil paintings2 – www.1art.com/download1.htm
  15. Free clipart and animations – www.barrysclipart.com/
  16. Free Christmas art – www.christmasgifts.com/freeart.htm
  17. Clipart for children – www.kidsdomain.com/clip/
  18. Archive of art3 – www.artchive.com/ftp_site.htm
  19. Free web graphics – http://my.erinet.com/~cunning1/tiles.html
  20. Pictures catalogue—National Library of Australia4 – www.nla.gov.au/catalogue/pictures/
  21. Christian clipart – www.watton.org/clipart/index.htm
  22. Clipart, photos and fonts5 – www.clip-art-center.com/

Music or Song Content:

  1. www.pdinfo.com/list.htm (CDs for sale)
  2. Gospel music via MP3 - http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/111/jeanne_gere.html
  3. Free choral sheet music - http://www.cpdl.org/
  4. Free sheet music - www.sheetmusic1.com/NEW.GREAT.MUSIC.HTML

Software Content:
Links to public domain software

www.stokely.com/unix.sysadm.resources/shareware.www.html

Video Content:

  1. Pan American vide - www.Panamvideo.com/
  2. Public domain films - http://www.desertislandfilms.com/%20and%20www.retrofilm.com/

Notes

  1. Subject to conditions at: www.lib.utexas.edu/usage_statement.html
  2. Subject to the condition that copies not be used commercially.
  3. Use caution. Some of the art is still copyrighted. Copy only ancient art.
  4. Copies limited to research or education. Permission required for publication or uploading.
  5. Commercial use of any copies prohibited.
 
                     
                         
                         
 
Contact us: mailto:publishing@wsu.edu (509) 335-3518 | Accessibility | Copyright | Policies
Copyright, PO Box 645910, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-5910 USA