Public Domain Status
Before 1978, U.S. copyright law required works to include the word "Copyright", the abbreviation "Copr." or the "©" symbol. Because Universal Pictures included no proper copyright notice with Charade, the film entered public domain in the USA immediately upon its release. Copies of this movie, made from film prints of varying quality, have been available on VHS and DVD based on its status in the public domain. However, while the film itself is public domain, the original music remains under copyright.
Universal released an official VHS cassette of the film, transferred from original elements. However, when DVD was introduced, they licensed the film to The Criterion Collection rather than release it themselves. Competing with dozens of unofficial releases, the more expensive 2000 Criterion disc featured the only authorized professional transfer of the film on DVD. Universal eventually issued a version on DVD as a bonus feature included with the release of the remake The Truth About Charlie (2002). For the studio's 100th anniversary in 2012, Universal issued its own standalone DVD of the film that includes a digital copy. The film is available for free download at the Internet Archive.
Criterion subsequently reissued the DVD in 2004 with a new 16x9 transfer with more accurate colors, and then released a Blu-ray edition of the film in 2010.
Read more about this topic: Charade (1963 film)
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