Public Domain Guide

📚 PUBLIC DOMAIN GUIDE

Public Domain: Our Unrestricted Heritage

What is Public Domain?

Public domain refers to works whose copyright protection has expired or never existed, belonging to the entire community. As Mirasium, we share these works digitally, free of charge, which constitute Anatolia’s thousands of years of cultural heritage.

Criteria for Being Public Domain on Mirasium:

  1. 70+ years have passed since the author’s death
  2. Copyright has been waived
  3. It has never been under copyright protection
  4. It has been declared public domain by the government

What Can You Do with These Works?

  • ✅ Free download and copying
  • ✅ Sharing and distributing
  • ✅ Using in commercial projects
  • ✅ Modifying, adapting, remixing
  • ✅ Printing and exhibiting
  • ✅ Using in educational materials
  • ✅ Using in films, books, artworks

About Mirasium’s Own Text Content

License: All original articles, chronology texts, descriptions, and analysis content created by Mirasium are under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) International License.

Usage: You may:

  • Copy
  • Modify and adapt
  • Use in commercial projects
  • Redistribute

Requirement: During use, explicit attribution (citing the source) to en.mirasium.org is legally mandatory.

Example Citation: “Source: en.mirasium.org | [Article Title]”

What You Cannot Do / Points to Note

  • ❌ Using without citing the source (not ethical)
  • ❌ Distorting history or taking out of context
  • ❌ Presenting the work as your own creation
  • ❌ Using for hate speech or discrimination
  • ❌ Showing cultural disrespect

Special Cases and Explanations

1. Embedded Videos (YouTube/Vimeo)

  • Although these videos are marked as public domain on the platforms
  • YouTube/Vimeo’s own terms of use apply
  • Videos are embedded, not hosted directly on our server

2. Maps (OpenStreetMap)

  • Under the Open Database License (ODbL)
  • Attribution required in use: “© OpenStreetMap contributors”
  • Geographic data is open source

3. Photographs and Images

  • Although the work itself is public domain
  • The digital photograph of it may be under a different license
  • All digital copies presented on Mirasium: Are public domain or freely licensed

4. Manuscripts and Documents

  • The original work is public domain
  • Transcriptions/translations may require additional copyright
  • Transcriptions provided on Mirasium are open for free use

Citation Examples

For Public Domain Works:

MLA Format:

[Author]. "[Work Title]." [Date of Creation]. Mirasium, [URL]. Access date: [Date].

Simple Citation:

Source: en.mirasium.org | [Work Title]

For Mirasium Texts (CC BY 4.0):

MLA Format:

Mirasium. "[Article Title]." en.mirasium.org, [URL]. CC BY 4.0. Access: [Date].

Simple Citation:

Author: Mirasium | Source: en.mirasium.org | License: CC BY 4.0

Citation for Image Use:

  • Social Media: In the description, @mirasiumorg tag or “Source: en.mirasium.org“
  • Printed Material: Beneath the work, in small font: “en.mirasium.org“
  • Website: Source indication in ALT tag or description

Differences by Country

  • Turkey: Author’s death + 70 years
  • EU Countries: Author’s death + 70 years
  • USA: Works published before 1928 are generally public domain
  • Canada: Author’s death + 50 years

Important: Different rules may apply in different countries. Check local laws for commercial use.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

❓ Can I modify and publish the articles on Mirasium?

Answer: Yes! With the CC BY 4.0 license:

  • You can modify the articles
  • Use them commercially
  • Mandatory: You must attribute Mirasium
  • Recommended: Indicate that you have made changes

❓ Can I use everything commercially?

Answer: Public domain works: Yes.
Mirasium texts: Yes (with CC BY 4.0).
However:

  • Be careful in situations requiring trademark/design registration
  • Works with “historical artifact” status may have additional restrictions

❓ Is attribution mandatory?

Answer:

  • Public domain works: Legally no, ethically yes
  • Mirasium texts: LEGALLY MANDATORY (as per CC BY 4.0)

❓ What if I accidentally see a work that is not public domain?

Answer: Please contact us via our Copyright Infringement Notice page.

❓ Can I modify and sell the work?

Answer:

  • Public domain works: Yes
  • Mirasium texts: Yes (with attribution)
  • Make sure the original work is public domain
  • Label as “historical artifact derivative”

❓ Can I trust the information on Mirasium?

Answer: We do not provide absolute guarantees.

  • All classifications are made in good faith
  • Be sure to check the original sources
  • Consult a lawyer for legal advice

Important Warnings and Disclaimer

1. Verification Obligation

The appearance of a work on Mirasium does NOT mean it is 100% public domain. Every user must:

  • Check the original source of the work
  • Calculate the copyright term
  • Consult an expert if in doubt

2. Mirasium’s Role

  • Only compiles existing public domain information
  • IS NOT a copyright law expert
  • Does not provide legal advice
  • IS NOT responsible for misclassifications

3. Cultural Sensitivity

Anatolia’s cultural heritage:

  • Is multi-religious, multi-lingual, multi-cultural
  • Its historical context must be respected
  • Political/ideological distortion must be avoided

4. For Commercial Use

  • Get legal advice from a lawyer
  • Get insurance (if necessary)
  • Label as “public domain derivative”
  • Document the original sources

Contact and Support

For questions about public domain:

  • Email: merhaba@mirasium.org
  • Subject: “Public Domain Question”

Last Update

This guide is updated regularly. Last update: [03.12.2025]

Note: This guide is for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. For official information, refer to relevant laws and expert opinions.

License Information: This guide itself is also under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) license. You may copy, modify, and share it. Please cite the source.