Works created by federal government employees during the course of their employment, state or local judicial opinions, government legislation, public ordinances, and administrative rulings are all considered to be in the public domain and therefore not protected by copyright laws. (NOTE: Argonne employees are employed by UChicago Argonne LLC, not by the federal government.)
- All works published in the United States before 1923.
- Works published before 1978 without proper copyright notice.
- Works dedicated to the public domain by their creator.
- Works whose copyright term has expired.
