How long does copyright last?

Copyright duration varies from country to country, but in many places — including the European Union, the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, and others — the general rule for literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works is:

70 years after the death of the author (often called life plus 70), regardless of when the work was first made available to the public.

Examples of variations:

USA: Generally life of the author + 70 years for works created after 1977, but different rules apply to works made for hire, anonymous works, or older works.

Canada, New Zealand, Japan: Life of the author + 70 years (recently updated in some countries; previously life + 50).

Some countries (such as many in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean) may still use life + 50 years unless updated by national law.

Always check the laws of the country where you want to enforce your rights, as copyright terms and rules for special cases (e.g., joint authorship, sound recordings, films) can differ.