In order not to maintain a monopoly on the expression of ideas, copyrights are limited in their duration. In general, for works created on or after January 1, 1978, a copyright, upon its creation, extends through the life of the author and fifty years beyond the author’s death.
- For works created by more than one author, the copyright extends through the life of the surviving author and fifty years beyond the surviving author’s death.
- Where the author is unknown, uses a name other than his/her own or is a work for hire, the copyright lasts either for seventy-five years from the year it was first published or for one hundred years from its creation, whichever is earlier.
If the work was created, but not published, before January 1, 1978, the term of copyright protection is the same as above. However, the law mandates that no copyright in this category is to expire before December 31, 2002. If the work becomes published before December 31, 2002, then the copyright is not to expire before December 31, 2027.
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