copyright

Copyright protection duration depends on several factors, including the type of work and the country where the copyright is claimed. In the United States, the general rules are as follows:

For Works Created on or after January 1, 1978

• Individual Authors: The duration of copyright is the author's lifetime plus 70 years after the author's death.

• Works Made for Hire, Anonymous, or Pseudonymous Works: The duration is 95 years from the date of publication or 120 years from the date of creation, whichever is shorter.

For Works Created but Not Published or Registered before January 1, 1978

• The duration is the author's lifetime plus 70 years or until December 31, 2002, whichever is later.

For Works Published or Registered before January 1, 1978

• The duration is a total of 95 years from the date of publication. Initially, these works received a 28-year term of copyright, which could be renewed for an additional 67 years.

International Variations

• European Union: In general, copyright lasts for the author's lifetime plus 70 years after the author's death.

• Other Countries: Many other countries also follow the life-plus-70-years standard, but there are variations. It is important to check the specific laws of each country.

For a more detailed explanation, you can refer to the U.S. Copyright Office website.