我研究了一下中国的著作权法，目的是了解在哪年之前拍的电影将不再受到保护。我找了很久也没有找到答案，所以终于往知识共享电子邮件讨论中发信问了问。他们让我参考中华人民共和国著作权法（翻译成英文）。这是我找出的：（第二十一条）

电影作品和以类似摄制电影的方法创作的作品、摄影作品，其发表权、本法第十条第一款第（五）项至第（十七）项规定的权利的保护期为五十年，截止于作品首次发表后第五十年的１２月３１日，但作品自创作完成后五十年内未发表的，本法不再保护。

这意味着在1957年之前拍的电影可以自由发行了。我已经把1941年卡通片《铁扇公主》放在archive.org上了，希望将来能上传更多老电影。

这样关于法律的事情很不容易写。Jess已经帮我改正了一下，多谢！如果还有错误请指出来。

我正在尽量做《铁扇公主》英文字幕，希望会有人来帮助。

I’ve done some research on Chinese copyright law with the purpose of learning the copyright term of movies produced in China. Having searched for a long time without results I finally sent an email to the Creative Commons China mailing list asking my question. They referred me to an English translation of the Copyright Law of the People’s Republic of China. Here’s what I found: (Article 21)

The term of protection for the right of publication or protection for the right of publication or the rights referred to in Article 10, paragraphs (5) to (17), of this Law in respect of a cinematographic work, a work created by virtue of an analogous method of film production or a photographic work shall be fifty years, and expires on 31 December of the fiftieth year after the first publication of such work, provided that any such work that has not been published within fifty years after the completion of its creation shall no longer be protected under this Law.

This means that movies made before 1957 can now be freely distributed. I’ve already uploaded the 1941 animated film Princess Iron Fan to archive.org and hope to be able to make more old movies available in the future.

I am currently working on English subtitles for Princess Iron Fan. All help is appreciated!