Hi. I contacted Warner Brothers about a show from the early 80's. I'd like to use some clips from the show for a documentary.

They faxed me a letter stating "Rights in and to the requested motion picture or television title(s) have expired".

What does this mean? Can I use anything from the show? Is no agreement needed? Can I use the clips and sell DVDs without any legal consequences?

Well, somebody has to own the rights.

Maybe they are saying that their own rights to it have reverted back to the creator?

Since the show aired in 81, has the copyright expired all together? Don't copyrights last only 20 years?

Copyrights last a lot longer than 20 years, unless relinquished and placed into the Public Domain.

Here's a chart that you may find useful.

http://www.copyright.cornell.edu/training/Hirtle_Public_Domain.htm

So Warner Brother's owned the rights for 21 years 81 to 2002. Then they revert back to the production company, Ohlmeyer Communications. Are these guys still in business?

What if it is impossible to track down who owns the rights to a tv show or movie?

There's always a way to find out. Just takes a little research.

So Warner Brother's owned the rights for 21 years 81 to 2002.

That was just a guess on my part... that they owned the distribution rights for a certain period of years. That may or may not be the case, after some legwork. :)

Here you go.

Ohlmeyer Communications
962 N La Cienega Blvd,
Los Angeles, CA

(310) 659-8557

Not so hard.

First you need to learn about copyright law. Go to http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ15a.pdf and http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html to get the law straight from the source.

Second, that response means that WB had a limited use license granted to them from the copyright owner. They should be able to tell you who the original owner is, and you’ll need to contact them. There is a search function at the copyright.gov website that may help.