What is the status of works created in the United States before 1922?

Works created in the United States before 1922 are in the public domain. This means that these works are no longer protected by copyright and can be freely used, reproduced, and distributed by anyone without the need for permission or a license.

The rationale behind this status is that copyright laws grant protection for a limited duration, after which works enter the public domain to allow for wider access and use of cultural, educational, and historical materials. As a result, since all works published before 1922 have exceeded their copyright protection period, they are now in the public domain and accessible for various uses without restrictions. This is beneficial for scholars, educators, and creators who wish to use these older works in their own projects.