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  • Court confirms Sherlock Holmes is in public domain
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Photo: ostill / Shutterstock.com
17 June 2014Copyright

Court confirms Sherlock Holmes is in public domain

A US appeals court has reaffirmed an earlier ruling that the popular Sherlock Holmes stories are in the public domain and his character may be used without permission from right holders.

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More on this story

Copyright
Sherlock Holmes copyright dispute resolved
6 January 2014   The organisation which manages copyright protection for the Sherlock Holmes stories has been told authors may be able to use the character in future works without permission.
Copyright
Author seeks Sherlock Holmes copyright removal
19 February 2013   A US author has asked a court to wipe any existing copyright protection over fictional crime detective Sherlock Holmes, 83 years after his creator’s death.


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