Public domain
222 countries
Every design page says whether the stamp’s artwork is in the public domain: Yes, No, or Unclear. The line is about the design printed on the stamp, not about the scan shown above it.
The answer is worked out when the page is built, from the issuing country and the year of issue. Some countries treat a stamp as an official sign of the state, which their copyright law leaves unprotected, so every stamp is public domain whatever its date. Others give the post office a fixed term, most often 50 years from the end of the year of issue, after which the design is free. Others treat a stamp as an ordinary work of art, protected until 70 years after the designer or engraver died; for those the archive needs a credited designer with a known death year, and answers Unclear until it has one.
Where Commons has no ruling on a country’s stamps, or calls its law disputed, the archive reads the country’s general copyright law instead: the term after the designer’s death, the term for an anonymous work, and the term for works of the state. Those answers are Likely yes or Likely no, given only when every reading that could apply agrees. Unclear covers the rest: readings that disagree, records with no country or no year, and decade-only records whose decade straddles a cutoff. A cataloger can set the status by hand for a known exception, and the page then shows that value.
We have attempted to source a public account of stamp copyright, country by country, with citations to each law. This is not legal advice. It is the archive’s reading of the country-by-country notes kept by Wikimedia Commons and other sources, which can be wrong, out of date, or silent on a particular stamp. Before using a stamp’s artwork, especially commercially, consult a lawyer qualified in your jurisdiction; copyright is national, and a design that is free in one country may be protected in another. Nothing here covers the scan or photograph on a design page, which is the archive’s own work or carries its own attribution.
When a stamp counts as a government work
A stamp is made for the state, but that alone does not put it in the public domain. Some countries leave official signs of the state unprotected and count stamps among them; Albania treats a stamp as a means of payment, so every Albanian stamp is free. Others give the government a fixed term: Crown copyright in Canada, and in the United Kingdom until October 1969, runs 50 years from the end of the year of issue. Germany treats a stamp as an ordinary work of art, protected until 70 years after its designer died.
Who runs the post office matters. American stamps issued before January 1, 1978 are works of the federal government; since then the United States Postal Service has held the copyright. When a post office stops being a government department and becomes a company, as the United Kingdom’s did in 1969 and Malaysia’s in 1992, the stamps it issues afterward are no longer plain government works.
CountryThe archive’s readingChecked
AbkhaziaOfficial documents and state signs are unprotected, but Commons found no evidence that the rule reaches stamps and treats them as copyrighted.2026-09-16AfghanistanCopyright expires 50 years after a stamp is first put into circulation.2026-09-16AlbaniaAlbanian postal regulation treats stamps as a means of payment, which the copyright law leaves unprotected.2026-09-16AlgeriaStamps carry the same restrictions as other government works.2026-09-16AndorraNo ruling on Andorra stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08AngolaNo rule specific to stamps; the general copyright law applies.2026-09-16AnguillaNo ruling on Anguilla stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08Antigua and BarbudaAn anonymous stamp is public domain 50 years after publication.2026-09-16ArgentinaAn anonymous stamp, as a work of an institution, is public domain 50 years after publication.2026-09-16ArmeniaStamps are state postal payment symbols, which the copyright law leaves unprotected.2026-09-16ArubaNo ruling on Aruba stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08AustraliaAustralia Post claims copyright for 50 years from publication.2026-09-16AustriaThe post office holds only limited rights; the designer’s copyright applies, 70 years after death.2026-09-16AzerbaijanStamps are exempt as official signs.2026-09-16BahamasNo ruling on Bahamas stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08BahrainNo rule specific to stamps; the general copyright law applies.2026-09-16BangladeshGovernment works are protected for 60 years from publication.2026-09-16BarbadosNo rule specific to stamps; the general copyright law applies.2026-09-16BelarusA stamp is an official state sign of postage, which the copyright law leaves unprotected.2026-09-16BelgiumA stamp is free 70 years after the post issued it and 70 years after its designer died, whichever comes later.2026-09-16BelizeBefore independence in 1981, Crown copyright of 50 years.2026-09-16BeninNo rule specific to stamps; the general copyright law applies.2026-09-16BermudaNo ruling on Bermuda stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08BhutanNo ruling on Bhutan stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08BoliviaProtection runs 50 years after the author’s death, or 50 years after publication for an anonymous work.2026-09-16Bosnia and HerzegovinaNo rule specific to stamps; the general copyright law applies.2026-09-16BotswanaNo rule specific to stamps; the general copyright law applies.2026-09-16BrazilStamps issued before 1983 are public domain as government works; later ones are copyrighted.2026-09-16British Virgin IslandsNo ruling on British Virgin Islands stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08BruneiNo rule specific to stamps; the general copyright law applies.2026-09-16BulgariaNo rule specific to stamps; the general copyright law applies.2026-09-16Burkina FasoNo rule specific to stamps; the general copyright law applies.2026-09-16BurundiProtection runs 50 years after the author’s death, or 50 years after publication for an anonymous or collective work.2026-09-16CambodiaStamps are not among the government documents Cambodian law leaves unprotected.2026-10-07CameroonNo ruling on Cameroon stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08CanadaCrown copyright: 50 years following the end of the year of publication.2026-09-16Cape VerdeNo ruling on Cape Verde stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08Caribbean NetherlandsNo ruling on Caribbean Netherlands stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08Cayman IslandsNo ruling on Cayman Islands stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08Central African RepublicNo ruling on Central African Republic stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08ChadNo ruling on Chad stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08ChileNo rule specific to stamps; the general copyright law applies.2026-09-16ChinaAn anonymous stamp is public domain 95 years after issue, a line that moves forward each January (stamps before 1931 in 2026).2026-09-16ColombiaStamps appear to be free 70 years after publication.2026-09-16ComorosNo ruling on Comoros stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08Cook IslandsNo ruling on Cook Islands stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08Costa RicaNo provision for stamps.2026-09-16CroatiaNo ruling on Croatia stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08CubaModern stamps are not public domain or their status is unknown.2026-09-16CyprusNo ruling on Cyprus stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08CzechiaStamps are not official works.2026-09-16CzechoslovakiaStamps issued before 1922 are public domain, with a few exceptions.2026-09-16DenmarkNo provision for stamps or government works: 70 years after the artist’s death, or 70 years from publication for an anonymous work.2026-09-16DjiboutiNo ruling on Djibouti stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08DominicaA work made by or under the direction of the state is protected for 70 years from the end of the year it was made, under the Copyright Act 2003.2026-10-07Dominican RepublicNo ruling on Dominican Republic stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08DR CongoNo ruling on DR Congo stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08EcuadorNo exception for stamps: 70 years from publication as a work owned by a legal person.2026-09-16EgyptEgypt Post asserts its rights.2026-09-16El SalvadorWorks owned by legal entities are protected for 70 years from first publication.2026-09-16Equatorial GuineaNo ruling on Equatorial Guinea stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08EritreaNo ruling on Eritrea stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08EstoniaStamps issued before 1991 are public domain as works of the Soviet government.2026-09-16EswatiniNo ruling on Eswatini stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08EthiopiaPublic domain 50 years after the date of issue.2026-09-16Falkland IslandsNo ruling on Falkland Islands stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08Faroe IslandsCommons accepts Faroese stamps of any year.2026-09-16FijiNo ruling on Fiji stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08FinlandStamps issued before 1990 by the state post are free of copyright as part of a public body’s decisions.2026-09-16FranceA stamp has the same status as any work of art: free 70 years after the designer’s death.2026-09-16GabonNo ruling on Gabon stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08GambiaNo ruling on Gambia stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08GeorgiaStamps are exempt as official signs.2026-09-16GermanyA Berlin court ruled in 2012 that stamps are not official works.2026-09-16GhanaNo ruling on Ghana stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08GreeceFree 70 years after the artist’s death.2026-09-16GreenlandNo ruling on Greenland stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08GrenadaNo ruling on Grenada stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08GuatemalaNo ruling on Guatemala stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08GuernseyNo ruling on Guernsey stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08GuineaNo ruling on Guinea stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08Guinea-BissauNo ruling on Guinea-Bissau stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08GuyanaNo ruling on Guyana stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08HaitiFree 60 years after the artist’s death, or 60 years after issue for a pseudonymous stamp.2026-09-16HondurasNo ruling on Honduras stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08Hong KongHongkong Post, a government department, owns the copyright in its stamps.2026-10-07HungaryProbably not public domain: the exemption for means of state direction is read narrowly.2026-09-16IcelandNo rule specific to stamps; the general copyright law applies.2026-09-16IndiaGovernment works are protected 60 years after publication.2026-09-16IndonesiaStamps are free as government works under Article 43(b) of the 2014 copyright law.2026-09-16IranA work owned by a legal person is public domain 30 years after publication.2026-09-16IraqPublic domain 50 years after publication.2026-09-16IrelandStamps issued by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs before 1984 are official works, free 50 years after publication.2026-09-16Isle of ManNo ruling on Isle of Man stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08IsraelThe state owns stamp copyright, which expires on 1 January of the 51st year after creation.2026-09-16ItalyNo exception for stamps: free 70 years after the death of the last of the designer and engraver, or 70 years after issue for an anonymous stamp.2026-09-16Ivory CoastNo ruling on Ivory Coast stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08JamaicaNo rule specific to Jamaican stamps; the general copyright law applies.2026-10-07JapanStamps are treated as organizational works.2026-09-16JerseyNo ruling on Jersey stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08JordanNo ruling on Jordan stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08KazakhstanStamps are official signs of postage, which the copyright law leaves unprotected.2026-09-16KenyaWorks commissioned by the government are protected 50 years from the end of the year of publication; colonial issues fall under Crown copyright, also 50 years.2026-09-16KiribatiNo ruling on Kiribati stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08KosovoNo ruling on Kosovo stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08KuwaitNo ruling on Kuwait stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08KyrgyzstanKyrgyz law leaves official signs unprotected, and its postal law counts postage stamps among the official signs of postage.2026-10-07LaosThe 2023 intellectual property law does not exempt stamps.2026-09-16LatviaThe copyright law exempts official symbols and signs but does not list stamps, so Commons assumes stamps are protected in the normal way, 70 years after the author’s death.2026-09-16LebanonNo ruling on Lebanon stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08LesothoNo ruling on Lesotho stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08LiberiaNo ruling on Liberia stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08LibyaLibyan stamps are protected for 30 years from publication as works made by legal entities, following a Commons deletion discussion.2026-10-07LiechtensteinThe law exempts means of payment, but Swiss commentary, which Liechtenstein follows, does not count stamps among them.2026-09-16LithuaniaStamps are exempt as official signs.2026-09-16LuxembourgNo ruling on Luxembourg stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08MacauNo ruling on Macau stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08MadagascarNo ruling on Madagascar stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08MalawiGovernment works are protected 50 years from first publication.2026-09-16MalaysiaStamps of the government post office are government works, protected 50 years from publication.2026-09-16MaldivesNo ruling on Maldives stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08MaliNo ruling on Mali stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08MaltaNo ruling on Malta stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08ManchukuoChina never recognized Manchukuo, so any copyright expired no later than 1996 under China’s 50-year corporate term.2026-09-16MauritaniaNo ruling on Mauritania stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08MauritiusNo ruling on Mauritius stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08MexicoNo rule specific to stamps; the general copyright law applies.2026-09-16MicronesiaNo ruling on Micronesia stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08MoldovaA stamp is a printed sign of value issued by the state, an official sign the copyright law leaves unprotected.2026-09-16MonacoNo ruling on Monaco stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08MongoliaNo ruling on Mongolia stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08MontenegroNo ruling on Montenegro stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08MontserratNo ruling on Montserrat stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08MoroccoNo ruling on Morocco stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08MozambiqueWorks of applied art, which appear to include stamps, are protected 70 years after completion.2026-09-16MyanmarGovernment works are protected 50 years from first publication.2026-09-16NamibiaGovernment works are protected 50 years after publication; earlier issues follow South Africa’s 50-year rule.2026-09-16NauruNo ruling on Nauru stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08NepalNo ruling on Nepal stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08NetherlandsBefore 1989 the PTT was the author of its stamps, so copyright expires 70 years after publication; stamps of 1852 to 1955 are public domain.2026-09-16New ZealandCrown copyright: 50 years for stamps issued before 1945, so all are public domain; 100 years for stamps issued from 1945 to March 1987 by the Post Office as a government department; New Zealand Post holds later ones.2026-09-16NicaraguaThe 1904 civil code protected government works for 10 years and the 1999 law is not retroactive, so stamps issued before 1989 are public domain.2026-09-16NigerNo ruling on Niger stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08NigeriaNo ruling on Nigeria stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08NiueNo ruling on Niue stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08North KoreaA work whose author is an institution is protected up to 50 years from publication.2026-09-16North MacedoniaNo ruling on North Macedonia stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08NorwayNo ruling on Norway stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08OmanNo ruling on Oman stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08Ottoman EmpireCommons accepts Ottoman stamps of any year.2026-09-16PakistanThe government owns stamp copyright as a government work; the term for government works is 50 years from publication.2026-09-16PalauNo ruling on Palau stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08PalestineNo ruling on Palestine stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08PanamaProtection runs 70 years after the author’s death (80 for authors who died before 1995), or 70 years from publication for an anonymous stamp.2026-09-16Papua New GuineaNo ruling on Papua New Guinea stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08ParaguayThe copyright law does not exempt stamps; the general term of 70 years after the author’s death applies.2026-09-16PeruGovernment works created before 1971 had a 25-year term that has expired.2026-09-16PhilippinesWorks of the government are not protected.2026-09-16PolandOfficial materials, signs and symbols are unprotected, but whether stamps count is unclear; Commons deleted about 900 Polish stamps in 2009.2026-09-16PortugalNo ruling on Portugal stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08QatarNo ruling on Qatar stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08Republic of the CongoNo ruling on Republic of the Congo stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08RomaniaA stamp is a paper of value issued under the authority of the state, a means of payment the copyright law leaves unprotected.2026-09-16RussiaOfficial signs of postage are not copyrighted under the Civil Code.2026-09-16RwandaNo ruling on Rwanda stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da CunhaNo ruling on Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08Saint Kitts and NevisNo ruling on Saint Kitts and Nevis stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08Saint LuciaNo ruling on Saint Lucia stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesNo ruling on Saint Vincent and the Grenadines stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08SamoaNo ruling on Samoa stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08San MarinoNo ruling on San Marino stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08São Tomé and PríncipeNo ruling on São Tomé and Príncipe stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08Saudi ArabiaNo ruling on Saudi Arabia stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08SenegalNo ruling on Senegal stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08SerbiaNo ruling on Serbia stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08SeychellesCrown copyright of 50 years until independence in June 1976; since then a term of 25 years from first publication.2026-09-16Sierra LeoneNo ruling on Sierra Leone stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08SingaporeStamps are government works, public domain 70 years after issue.2026-09-16Sint MaartenNo ruling on Sint Maarten stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08SlovakiaNo ruling on Slovakia stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08SloveniaNo ruling on Slovenia stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08Solomon IslandsNo ruling on Solomon Islands stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08SomaliaNo ruling on Somalia stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08South AfricaPublic domain 50 years after publication.2026-09-16South KoreaNo rule specific to stamps; the general copyright law applies.2026-09-16South SudanNo ruling on South Sudan stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08Soviet UnionRussia is the legal successor of the RSFSR and the USSR, so Russia’s official-sign exemption applies.2026-09-16SpainStamps are copyright of their designers: 70 years after death, or 80 if the designer died before December 7, 1987.2026-09-16Sri LankaThe 2003 act is silent on stamps; assume the general term, so stamps published 70 years ago are public domain.2026-09-16SudanNo ruling on Sudan stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08SwedenNo exception for stamps: public domain 70 years after the engraver’s death.2026-09-16SwitzerlandThe law exempts means of payment, but the prevailing view is that stamps are not among them, so they are protected: 70 years after the author’s death.2026-09-16SyriaNo ruling on Syria stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08TaiwanStamps are ordinary copyrighted artworks, not government works: 50 years after the author’s death.2026-09-16TajikistanStamps are state signs of payment for postal services, which the copyright law leaves unprotected.2026-09-16TanzaniaNo ruling on Tanzania stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08ThailandThailand Post holds copyright for 50 years.2026-09-16Timor-LesteNo ruling on Timor-Leste stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08TogoNo ruling on Togo stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08TongaThe situation is unclear, but any stamp published more than 50 years ago should be public domain.2026-09-16Trinidad and TobagoNo ruling on Trinidad and Tobago stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08TunisiaNo ruling on Tunisia stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08TurkeyCopyright belongs to the state and lasts 70 years from publication.2026-09-16TurkmenistanState symbols and signs are not copyrightable, so stamps are public domain.2026-09-16Turks and Caicos IslandsNo ruling on Turks and Caicos Islands stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08TuvaluNo ruling on Tuvalu stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08UgandaNo ruling on Uganda stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08UkraineA stamp is a state sign under the postal law, and the copyright law leaves state signs unprotected (Article 10 of the 1993 law; Article 8 of the 2022 law that replaced it, as Commons’ tag quotes it).2026-09-16United Arab EmiratesStamps printed before 1977 are public domain under the 1992 law’s 25-year term; later ones are protected 50 years from publication.2026-09-16United KingdomDesigns published before October 1, 1969 were Crown copyright, which expires after 50 years; that also covers colonial issues before independence.2026-09-16United StatesA stamp issued before January 1, 1978 is a work of the federal government and public domain.2026-09-16UruguayNo ruling on Uruguay stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08UzbekistanStamps are exempt as official signs.2026-09-16VanuatuNo ruling on Vanuatu stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08Vatican CityNo ruling on Vatican City stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08VenezuelaWorks made in public sector employment are public domain, and IPOSTEL, which issues stamps, is a government body.2026-09-16VietnamThe Ministry of Information and Communications owns the design of Vietnamese stamps, and copying it needs the ministry’s written consent.2026-10-07Wang Jingwei regimeChina never recognized the regime, and limits corporate copyright to 50 years from publication, so any copyright in its stamps expired by January 1, 1996 at the latest.2026-10-07Western SaharaNo ruling on Western Sahara stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08YemenNo ruling on Yemen stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08ZambiaNo ruling on Zambia stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08ZimbabweNo ruling on Zimbabwe stamps specifically has been found, so the archive reads them under the country’s general copyright law.2026-10-08Read from Wikimedia Commons, revision 1198039080. A country the archive has no rule for answers Unclear on every design page.
Wikimedia Commons, the source of every rule hereOpen the index