Are MLK speeches in the public domain?

To be sure, the “I Have a Dream” speech is not in the public domain and its use should be assumed to require the payment of a licensing fee to the King Center, the repository of his legacy. It sells DVD’s of the speech, treating his speeches as commercial literary works.

Who owns Martin Luther King’s speech I Have a Dream?

The King family
The King family still owns the ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. Though it is one of the most famous and widely celebrated speeches in U.S. history, the “I Have a Dream” speech is not in the public domain, but is protected by copyright—which is owned and enforced by King’s heirs.

Are MLK images copyrighted?

Martin Luther King Jr. While most photos of Martin Luther King are copyrighted by their photographer, and the The Estate of Martin Luther King Jr., Inc. claims to own his image/likeness, all the pictures on this page have been placed in the public domain.

Why did Martin Luther King Jr give his speech?

“I Have a Dream” is a public speech that was delivered by American civil rights activist and Baptist minister, Martin Luther King Jr., during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963. In the speech, King called for civil and economic rights and an end to racism in the United States.

Is MLK name copyrighted?

Although copyright is not (and should not be) the first thing that comes to mind when we think of Dr. King, the impact of his legacy on copyright law ought to be somewhere on the list. Indeed, Dr. King’s name has popped up as the litigant, author, or subject matter of dozens of copyright cases.

What makes public domain?

The term “public domain” refers to creative materials that are not protected by intellectual property laws such as copyright, trademark, or patent laws. The public owns these works, not an individual author or artist. There are four common ways that works arrive in the public domain: the copyright has expired.