# RightsAtlas Research Packet — The Docks of New York (1928)

> ⚠️ **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:** `2026-09-01-c2bade8`  ·  **Generated:** 2026-10-05  ·  **Country:** US  ·  **Last verified:** 2026-09-01

## ⚠️ 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:** US film published by Paramount Pictures in September 1928. The 95-year copyright term under the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act expired on January 1, 2024; all US-published works from 1928 or earlier are now in the public domain by expiry of that term, with no renewal required to confirm PD status as of 2026. — [Cornell University Copyright Information Center — Copyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States](https://copyright.cornell.edu/publicdomain)

> Published 1928: 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 | 0 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
- [The Docks of New York (1928) — 1080p MKV, Public Domain Mark 1.0, clean silent print](https://archive.org/details/the-docks-of-new-york_202506) · good
- [The Docks of New York (1928) — lower-resolution AVI with Portuguese intertitles (Docas de Nova York)](https://archive.org/details/20211115_20211115_2301) · fair

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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/the-docks-of-new-york-1928/