# RightsAtlas Research Packet — House on Haunted Hill (1959)

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

## ⚠️ 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 — Undetermined
- **renewal_registration:** Renewal registration RE0000318809 (filed 1986-01-12) exists at the U.S. Copyright Office for a motion picture titled 'House on a haunted hill. By Allied Artists Pictures Corporation.', renewing original registration LP0000012531 (filed 1958-12-29, notice year 1959). The renewing party is listed as Revival Pictures (PWH). Allied Artists Pictures Corporation distributed the 1959 William Castle film, and the registration date and notice year match. The copyright.gov record is a live primary record, not a search result. — [U.S. Copyright Office Public Records System](https://publicrecords.copyright.gov/detailed-record/voyager_7215258)
- **research_note:** The title in the renewal record — 'House on a haunted hill' — does not match the film's known release title 'House on Haunted Hill'. No renewal was found under the exact title 'House on Haunted Hill' for a motion picture. Revival Pictures (PWH) filed batch renewals in January and December 1986 for dozens of films across Allied Artists, Four Star Films, and Revue Productions catalogues, all dated to the same filing windows. Whether RE0000318809 covers the William Castle film or a differently titled work is genuinely uncertain. The film has circulated as public domain on budget labels and through Internet Archive since at least the late 1980s without documented copyright enforcement.


## Other layers — NOT cleared by this packet

| Layer | Status | Evidence on file |
|---|---|---|
| Music score | Undetermined | 2 item(s) |
| Underlying story / screenplay | Undetermined | 1 item(s) |
| Character trademarks | Undetermined | 1 item(s) |
| Restorations / re-releases | Not public domain | 1 item(s) |

## What this means
- **Watching:** Status unclear — the linked copies may not be authorized.
- **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
- [Internet Archive (public domain)](https://archive.org/details/house_on_haunted_hill_ipod) · 480p
- [Internet Archive (CC BY 3.0)](https://archive.org/details/HouseOnHauntedHill1959) · 480p

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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/house-on-haunted-hill-1959/