# RightsAtlas Research Packet — A Dog's Life (1918)

> ⚠️ **NOT legal advice.** This is a primary-source research packet describing **United States** copyright status only. It is not a clearance certificate and not a DMCA counter-notification. Verify independently before any platform dispute.

**Scope:** Tier A — **film-print layer only**. Music, story, trademark, and restorations are NOT cleared by this packet.
**Packet version:** `2026-10-03-c2bade8`  ·  **Generated:** 2026-10-05  ·  **Country:** US  ·  **Last verified:** 2026-10-03

## ⚠️ Sound recordings (pre-1972)
Sound recordings fixed before **15 Feb 1972** can be protected under state law / the Music Modernization Act until **2067 or later** — the film *print* being public domain does **not** free the music track. Assume the recorded score is a claim risk.

## Film print — Verified public domain
- **term_expiry:** Published 1918 in the US. Maximum copyright term under the 1909 Act as extended by the 1976 Act and the 1998 Sonny Bono CTEA is 95 years (28-year initial + 67-year renewal term). The copyright on the original 1918 print — even assuming timely renewal in 1945–1946 — ran to December 31, 2013. As of 2026 the term is fully exhausted. — [US Copyright Office FAQ on copyright duration for pre-1978 works](https://copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-duration.html)

> Published 1918: US copyright term (95 years) has expired for works published through 1930 — the film print is public domain in the US by term expiry, regardless of country of origin.

## Other layers — NOT cleared by this packet

| Layer | Status | Evidence on file |
|---|---|---|
| Music score | Partially protected | 1 item(s) |
| Underlying story / screenplay | Verified public domain | 1 item(s) |
| Character trademarks | Undetermined | 1 item(s) |
| Restorations / re-releases | Not public domain | 1 item(s) |

## What this means
- **Watching:** Watching via the linked archival copies is generally the lowest-risk activity.
- **Reusing / monetizing:** The film print may be free, but at least one layer (music, story, or restoration) is unresolved — expect Content ID claims; keep evidence handy and consider removing or replacing the score.

## Archival copies
- [A Dog's Life (1918) directed by Charlie Chaplin — Internet Archive community upload](https://archive.org/details/a-dogs-life-1918-directed-by-charlie-chaplin) · community

---
_Valid as of 2026-10-05. Copyright status can change — check the live dossier before relying on this in a dispute:_ https://bitgitty.github.io/rightsatlas/film/a-dog-s-life-1918/