# RightsAtlas Research Packet — Ben-Hur (1925)

> ⚠️ **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:** `2026-09-09-c2bade8`  ·  **Generated:** 2026-10-05  ·  **Country:** US  ·  **Last verified:** 2026-09-09

## ⚠️ 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 1925 in the US; copyright held by Loew's Inc. (MGM). The 95-year maximum term under 17 U.S.C. § 304 as extended by the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act (1998) expired January 1, 2021. Whether or not Loew's renewed in 1952–53, the full statutory term has run. — [Duke Center for the Study of the Public Domain, Public Domain Day 2021](https://web.law.duke.edu/cspd/publicdomainday/2021/)

> Published 1925: 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 | 2 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
- [Ben Hur, A Tale Of The Christ (1925) — Internet Archive silent_films collection; full feature, 2.7 GB MPEG4, publicly accessible](https://archive.org/details/silent-ben-hur-a-tale-of-the-christ-1925) · high
- [Ben Hur, A Tale Of The Christ (1925) — Internet Archive opensource_movies collection; Portuguese-subtitle version, publicly accessible](https://archive.org/details/ben-hur-a-tale-of-the-christ-1925) · medium

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_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/ben-hur-1925/