Are Haitian stamps public domain?

It depends on the designer. In the archive's reading, a Haitian stamp is public domain 60 years after its designer died, and a stamp with no named designer is free 60 years after the end of its year of issue, which in 2026 means 1965 or earlier.

Which Haitian stamps are public domain in 2026?

Two groups, in the archive's reading. Haitian stamps whose designer died in 1965 or earlier are public domain in 2026, and so are stamps with no named designer issued in 1965 or earlier, under the 60-year terms of Haiti's 2005 copyright decree.

Does Haiti's older 25-year term still matter?

It is an open question. Haiti's 1968 decree protected works for 25 years after the author's death, and Wikimedia Commons says the 2005 decree did not revive protection that had already ended, but its note on stamps does not address the older term. The archive uses the 60-year terms only.

Haiti

Are Haiti stamps public domain?

It depends on the designer: Haitian stamps are public domain 60 years after the death of their designer, in the archive's reading of Wikimedia Commons. A stamp with no named designer is free 60 years after the end of its year of issue, which in 2026 means 1965 or earlier. That year moves forward each January.

Why no fixed date?

Haiti's Decree of October 12, 2005 on copyright protects a work for the author's life plus 60 years. An anonymous or pseudonymous work is protected for 60 years from the end of the year it was first published.¹ Commons applies both terms to stamps. Its date for pseudonymous designs is counted back from the current year, and in 2026 it is January 1, 1966.¹ Commons names no tag for Haitian stamps; its general license tag for Haiti restates the 60-year term.¹ Commons' stamp note names only pseudonymous designs. The archive's reading is broader: it applies the 60-year term from issue to any stamp with no named designer, since the decree gives anonymous works the same term.¹

Postal history and copyright

The 2005 decree replaced a Decree of January 9, 1968, under which the general term was 25 years from the author's death.¹ Commons says the 2005 decree is not retroactive: a work whose protection had already run out under the earlier law did not regain it.¹ Commons' note on stamps cites only the 2005 terms and does not say how the 1968 term applies to older stamps; the question is open. The archive's rule uses the 60-year terms alone. According to Wikipedia, Haiti's first stamp was a 1-cent value showing the head of Liberty, issued in 1881.²

References 2

↑ Copyright rules for Haiti. Wikimedia Commons, September 3, 2026. Accessed October 8, 2026.
↑ Postage stamps and postal history of Haiti. Wikipedia, January 2, 2026. Accessed October 8, 2026.

The rule by period

PeriodRule

Any datePublic domain 60 years after the end of the year of issue when the stamp is anonymous; with a named designer, protected until 60 years after the death of the last designer or engraver.Commons counts 60 years from the designer's death, or 60 years for a pseudonymous design; the archive applies the second test to any stamp with no named designer.

Haiti stamps and the public domain: questions

Are Haitian stamps public domain?: It depends on the designer. In the archive's reading, a Haitian stamp is public domain 60 years after its designer died, and a stamp with no named designer is free 60 years after the end of its year of issue, which in 2026 means 1965 or earlier.
Which Haitian stamps are public domain in 2026?: Two groups, in the archive's reading. Haitian stamps whose designer died in 1965 or earlier are public domain in 2026, and so are stamps with no named designer issued in 1965 or earlier, under the 60-year terms of Haiti's 2005 copyright decree.
Does Haiti's older 25-year term still matter?: It is an open question. Haiti's 1968 decree protected works for 25 years after the author's death, and Wikimedia Commons says the 2005 decree did not revive protection that had already ended, but its note on stamps does not address the older term. The archive uses the 60-year terms only.