• Published works by known authors. Seventy years have passed since 1 January of the year following the year in which the author died (or, if there were joint authors, the year in which the author dying last died): Articles 31(1) and (2).
• Published works by unknown authors. Seventy years have passed since 1 January of the year following the year in which the work was first disclosed: Article 31(3). (If the author becomes known during this time, the preceding paragraph applies.)
• Unpublished works by unknown authors. Seventy years have passed since the date when the work was created, and 25 years have passed since 1 January of the year following the year in which the work was legally disclosed by a person other than the author: Articles 31(7) and 32.
• Official works. It is a provision of law, some other legal instrument of state administration, a judicial or authority decision, an authority or other official announcement or document, or a standard or other like provision made obligatory by a legislative act: Article 1(4).
• Facts and daily news. It consists of facts or daily news that serves as a basis for press information: Article 1(5).
• Folklore. It is an expression of folklore: Article 1(7). (Note, however, that works of an individual and original nature that are inspired by folk art are subject to copyright.)

The work meets one of the following criteria:

a) a work of known authorship and the author died before January 1, 1954

b) an anonymous work and it was published before January 1, 1954

c) a photograph or a work of applied art published before January 1, 1973

A source should be included so that the status can be verified.