When the copyright has expired, the work is free to copy without requesting permission from the last copyright holder. What is this status called?

When the copyright has expired, the work is free to copy without requesting permission from the last copyright holder. What is this status called?

• A. Copyright
• B. Web Notes
• C. Reading List
• D. Public Domain

Answer: (D)

Public Domain is the status when a work’s copyright has expired or never existed, so the work is free to copy, share, or adapt without permission. This means anyone can reproduce or build upon it without asking the rights holder or paying royalties. Copyright, by contrast, grants the creator exclusive rights for a certain period, which blocks free copying during that time. The other terms—Web Notes and Reading List—aren’t legal statuses of works. So the situation described is Public Domain.

Public Domain is the status when a work’s copyright has expired or never existed, so the work is free to copy, share, or adapt without permission. This means anyone can reproduce or build upon it without asking the rights holder or paying royalties. Copyright, by contrast, grants the creator exclusive rights for a certain period, which blocks free copying during that time. The other terms—Web Notes and Reading List—aren’t legal statuses of works. So the situation described is Public Domain.