# RightsAtlas Research Packet — Night of the Living Dead (1968)

> ⚠️ **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:** `2026-07-12-c2bade8`  ·  **Generated:** 2026-10-05  ·  **Country:** US  ·  **Last verified:** 2026-07-12

## ⚠️ 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
- **notice_failure:** Theatrical prints were distributed in 1968 without a copyright notice after the title was changed from 'Night of the Flesh Eaters' — under the 1909 Act, publication without notice placed the work in the public domain. — [Library of Congress National Film Registry essay](https://www.loc.gov/static/programs/national-film-preservation-board/documents/night_living_dead.pdf)
- **secondary:** The film's public-domain status is acknowledged across decades of scholarship and by its own creators in interviews; it is among the most-hosted feature films on the Internet Archive. — [Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/night_of_the_living_dead_dvd)


## Other layers — NOT cleared by this packet

| Layer | Status | Evidence on file |
|---|---|---|
| Music score | Undetermined | 1 item(s) |
| Underlying story / screenplay | Likely 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
- [Internet Archive (DVD transfer)](https://archive.org/details/night_of_the_living_dead_dvd) · 480p
- [Internet Archive (HD scan)](https://archive.org/details/Night.Of.The.Living.Dead_1080p) · 1080p

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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/night-of-the-living-dead-1968/