Bruce Lee and others public domain question

[saltysam]

Recently added an app called Filmon to my phone & tablet,it's basically a series of film channels showing mainly out of copyright movies,tv shows and series.There's a couple of kung fu film channels on there,mainly showing the usual fluff on a loop.however i notice that Fist Of Fury is playing there daily under it's Chinese Connection title.i know years ago there were a couple of dodgy dvd releases of this (Goodtimes disc was one) but i thought by now this film would be very much in Fortune Stars hands? interestlingly this is the only "official" Lee film they show,so is this classic actually in the public domain? other titles they are showing that i'm surprised about is Young Master & Drunken Master.

[Markgway]

It may be only specific versions are PD in America? Possibly taken from old theatrical prints where the distributor no longer exists. I've seen a version of The Chinese Connection on You Tube than begins with a National General card (they put out TCC and Fists of Fury in 1973).

The titles you mention have all had PD releases on VHS and DVD - even The Young Master - so there must be something to it.

[saltysam]

they are pretty ropey quality,full screen english dubbed versions being shown.it just seems bizarre to me that it looks like anyone could release versions of these movies ala Night Of The Living Dead.