Evidence, or it says Not verified
A rights date you cannot check is a guess. Where there is a record, we cite it by number. Where nobody has checked, the record says so.
Where the data comes from
Public records and open datasets, including Wikidata and the US copyright renewal catalogues, together with published sources for stories, anniversaries and industry information. Each public domain date is traced to the rule that produced it, and the record shows which rule that was.
Unchecked Stays Unchecked
Where nobody has looked up a US renewal, the record says Not verified. We do not round it up to public domain or down to protected, because either guess costs somebody money.
We Show Our Working
When there is a renewal record, we cite it by number, so a lawyer can confirm it in a minute and not take our word for it.
Public Domain Is Not the Same as Clear
Restored foreign copyrights, live trademarks and later editions can still catch you out. Those get their own flag, and none of it is legal advice.
No Borrowed Credibility
There are no customer logos on this page because nobody has asked to be quoted yet. When somebody does, they will be here.
Where AI is used
Some research summaries, scores and suggestions are produced with AI. Where they are, we keep the sources attached and require them: a casting suggestion without a source is discarded before you see it. AI output can still be wrong, so treat it as a starting point.
What happens to your work
Your scripts and slate stay in your account, stored in London, and are shared only with the people you choose. We do not train AI models on them. Our Privacy Policy has the detail, and our Disclaimer explains what a date in BlackSlate does and does not mean.
Find the next project before anyone else does
Producers and development teams start here. Writers come in through the producer who has them on a slate.