The public domain consists of creative works that are ineligible for copyright protection, such as those whose copyrights have expired, making them freely usable by anyone without permission. Works in the public domain include items like Wikipedia articles and other materials that are not owned or controlled by an individual or entity. However, simply posting a video online or finding content on the internet does not necessarily mean it is public domain, as copyright status depends on multiple factors and permissions may still be required for certain uses of the work.