Public domain: no copyright, but watch for other rights

Public domain means a work is free from copyright restrictions, either because the creator deliberately waived rights or the copyright term expired. Unlike a Creative Commons licence, which still imposes conditions like attribution, public domain gives you blanket permission to copy, distribute, or adapt without asking. But don't confuse 'no copyright' with 'no other legal limits' – a public domain photo might still show a trademarked logo or a person who hasn't consented to commercial use.

A common exam trick is presenting a work that looks public domain but actually has a database right attached, especially in EU law where databases can be protected separately. Another trap: moral rights (like the right to be named as author) never expire in some jurisdictions, so you can't falsely claim you created the work. To eliminate wrong options, check if the question mentions 'expired copyright' – that's a strong signal for public domain – versus 'donated by the author', which might still carry conditions.

Remember the quick test: if you can use the work without any permission or payment, but you still need to check for trademarks, privacy, or database rights, it's public domain. A handy memory aid is 'copyright gone, but other rights linger' – that keeps you from assuming total freedom.