An anonymous work is a work that is created by an unknown or unnamed author. The term “anonymous” is used to indicate that the identity of the author is not known or not disclosed. Anonymous works can be found in many different forms, including books, articles, songs, and paintings. In the legal context, anonymous works are considered to be in the public domain, since the copyright holder cannot be identified.
In some cases, works that were once anonymous may later be attributed to a specific author. For example, a manuscript that was anonymously published may later be revealed to have been written by a well-known author. In other cases, the authorship of an anonymous work may remain a mystery.
In some jurisdictions, anonymous works are protected by copyright for a specific duration after their publication, after which they will enter the public domain.