When Does A Copyright Expire?

The scope of copyright law is vast – it protects traditional art forms such as books, music, photos and paintings, but also covers more exotic forms of expression, such as computer software, choreography, literary and movie characters (Batman, James Bond) and even useful objects (product and clothing designs).

However, it often can be difficult to determine whether a particular work is still protected by copyright. Under current copyright law a copyright lasts for the “life of the author plus 70 years” or, if the work was created by an employee and is a “work for hire”, 95 years from publication. Unfortunately, for older works it’s often not that simple – duration is complicated by the fact that as Congress has increased the term of copyright protection for new works it has readjusted the term for older works, leading to a series of arcane retroactive rules that determine the copyright status of millions of works.

Works Published Before 1923

Although all works published before 1923 are in the public domain today, historical context is helpful. To find that we have to look back more than a century, to 1909. Relatively speaking, copyright protection was short then. Between 1909 and 1923 works registered with the Copyright Office were protected for 28 years from publication.

At the end of the 28 year term the owner could renew the copyright, in which case protection was extended for a second consecutive 28 year term (the “renewal term”). Thus, with renewal works could be protected for a total of 56 years. Congress has not extended the copyright for pre-1923 works, and therefore they are in the public domain whether their copyright lasted 28 or 56 years.

Works Published Between 1923 and 1963

A new copyright law passed in 1998 increased the copyright term for works published after that date. At the same time it adjusted the term for works published between 1923 and 1963. Works whose registration was still in their first term or had been renewed (by then the renewal term had been extended to 47 years, making it possible for works published in 1923 to still be protected in 1998) were given a new life – 95 years from publication.

These works have been falling into the public domain annually each year since 2019. Works published in 1923 entered the public domain on January 1, 2019, works published in 1924 in 2020, and so on. To date works published in 1923, 1924, 1925 and 1926 have entered the public domain. This will continue until 2057 when, finally, works published in 1961 will enter the public domain.

Works Published Between 1964 and 1977

The third major era is the years from 1964-1977. Once again, when Congress changed the rules in 1998 it changed the term for these works retroactively. Works published during these years are protected for 95 years. There is no registration or renewal requirement. Thus, a work published in 1964 will fall out of copyright on January 1, 2059, works published in 1965 in 2060, and continuing until 2072, when the final cohort – 1977 works – will lose protection.

Works Published After 1978

Works published after January 1, 1978 are protected for the life of the author + 70 years or, in the case of works for hire, 95 years. Works for hire – works created by employees – are a large share of copyright-protected works. For example, almost all Hollywood movies are works for hire, and therefore a movie released in 2022 will be protected for 95 years, until 2117.

The “life + 70 years” term has the potential for even longer duration for works that are not works for hire – the 30 year old author of a book published today might live another 60 years, to age 90. That 60 years, plus 70 years after the author’s death, could result in the work being protected for 130 years, until 2152. This will be true even if the author sells or assigns the work since the life of the copyright continues to run based on the life of the author.

Determining Whether A Work Is Protected Can Be Difficult

As this trip through history shows there has been a slow but continuous expansion of copyright duration from 28 years in 1909 to potentially well over 100 years today. However, the fact that Congress has enacted rules retroactively can make it difficult and confusing to determine whether older works are still under copyright.

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Lee T. Gesmer