Last Updated · May 2026
This statement explains how PastPrint handles source material and intellectual property in its historical archive.
Historical Facts Are Not Copyrightable
Under United States copyright law, historical facts, dates, names, and events cannot be owned by copyright. Only the specific creative expression used to describe those facts can be copyrighted. PastPrint records historical facts in our own original written work.
Public Domain Source Materials
The primary sources cited in our articles come from the Library of Congress Chronicling America archive, which consists of newspaper pages published in the United States between 1690 and 1963. Newspapers published in the United States before 1929 are in the public domain. Many later newspapers are also public domain or available under fair use for non-commercial educational purposes.
Quotation & Attribution
When we quote from a contemporary newspaper, we:
- Keep quotations brief (typically under 15 words)
- Place quoted material in quotation marks
- Attribute the quote to the specific newspaper and date
- Link to the original scanned page at the Library of Congress
Transformative Use
Our articles are transformative original works. We research historical events, synthesize information from multiple sources, and write new articles that provide context, analysis, and structure. We do not reproduce substantial portions of any single source.
Images
Featured images on PastPrint articles are sourced from Wikimedia Commons (public domain or Creative Commons), the Library of Congress, or other public archives. We credit and link to the original source.
Concerns
If you believe our use of any material exceeds fair use, please contact us at info@pastprint.com or see our DMCA Policy.