Project Gutenberg eBooks' public-domain status

Project Gutenberg eBooks' public-domain status describes the basis on which many of the eBooks are prepared: they are often created from several printed editions, each confirmed to be in the public domain in the United States, unless a copyright notice is included. The text may therefore differ from any single paper edition rather than reproduce one edition exactly.

Public-Domain Basis

The account makes U.S. public-domain confirmation the stated condition for the printed editions used in many Project Gutenberg eBooks. It also identifies an exception: a copyright notice may be included, so the description is not an unconditional claim about every eBook or every source edition.

Composite Texts and Edition Differences

An eBook may be assembled from several qualifying printed editions. This editorial practice means that its wording need not correspond to any one particular paper edition; the electronic text can reflect a combination of sources rather than a single print witness.

Scope of the Status

The distinction between public-domain status and edition fidelity is important. Confirmation that source editions are public domain in the United States explains their use, but it does not guarantee that the resulting eBook follows a particular printed edition. The stated status is specifically tied to the United States and should not be read as a claim about copyright law in every jurisdiction.