The internet respects few boundaries, so it’s important to exercise extreme caution when using foreign works in your projects. If you wish to make use of works from foreign territories, never assume that a work has fallen into the public domain merely because a work was published prior to a given date (e.g., 1923) or that exceptions provided under U.S. law are relevant.
Different legal rules often apply to materials created or used in foreign jurisdictions. For example, a work first published in a foreign territory that appears to be in the public domain under U.S. copyright law might not be in the public domain under its home country’s copyright law. Exploiting such a work in its territory or origin may lead to a claim on infringement. Moreover, exception to the copyright law frequently utilized in the U.S. may not be available as defenses when exploiting certain works abroad. For example, fair use is a concept that is recognized only under U.S. law, although some countries such as Great Britain and Canada recognize the similar concept of “fair dealing.”