List of countries' copyright lengths
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List of countries' copyright lengths
List of countries' copyright lengths
Copyright is the right to copy and publish a particular work. The terms "copy" and "publish" are quite broad. They also cover copying in electronic form, the making of translated versions, the creation of a television program based on the work, and putting the work on the Internet. A work is protected by copyright if it is a literary or artistic work. This is quite a broad expression, and almost all products of creative and original effort are copyrighted. Note that copyright protects only specific expressions of an idea, not the idea itself. A collection of facts may be copyrighted, assuming there is some creative activity involved in compiling the collection. Several countries provide a separate protection regime for collections of facts that qualify as "databases", but this regime has nothing to do with copyright. Copyright protection is automatic upon creation of the work. In some countries, registration with a Copyright Office has some benefits (like the ability to sue, or to receive more money in damages). When a work's copyright term ends, the work passes into the public domain.
Berne Convention
The Berne Convention stipulates that the duration of the term for copyright protection is the life of the author plus at least 50 years after their death. For some categories of works, the minimum duration is shorter. For example, the minimum term for applied art is 25 years. Movies have a minimum term of 50 years. Countries may choose a longer term of protection, and most countries have done so.
In Berne-signatory countries, the duration of copyright is dependent on the duration of the author's life. Berne requires that copyright exist until a minimum of 50 years after the author's death. A number of countries, including the European Union and the United States, have extended that to 70 years after the author's death. A small number of countries have extended copyright further. The current lengthiest term is 100 years after the death of the author (Mexico).
United States
In 1989, the Berne Convention became effective in the U.S., and also, from that moment on, U.S. authors obtained copyright on their works automatically, without having to register their work. However, many U.S. texts on copyright still echo the old registration principle, which can be confusing.
To confuse matters even more, copyright registration has not been abolished completely in the U.S. To start a lawsuit against infringers, it is still necessary in some countries to register a work. Registration offers the possibility to obtain statutory damages from the infringer, rather than only the actual damages.
European Union
All countries within the European Union are signatory states of the Berne Convention. Additionally, Copyright in the European Union is regulated through European Directives. The member states of the European Union have, following a directive, increased the term to life of the author and 70 years after their death. Although this was not the original intention, this extension applies retroactively. Works that had ended up in the public domain because the author was dead for 50 years received an additional twenty years of protection.
Most European countries, on the other hand, follow the principle that copyright protection is granted automatically upon creation of the work. This principle was first laid down in the Berne Convention (1886). The Berne Convention specifically forbids (in article 5) any member country to require any formality for getting copyright protection.
Copyright durations by country
This is a list of countries and their copyright terms, the lengths of their standard copyrights, in years. The table includes entries for non-country entities: the European Union, Berne Convention, and the Universal Copyright Convention, which set minimum terms for their member states or signatories. The Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), though not included, requires a copyright length of at least 50 years after death.
Legend
0, no copyright = Not copyrighted
Life + xx years = Copyrighted for authors' lifetime plus xx years after their deaths
xx years after publication, creation, etc. = copyrighted for xx years since publication, creation, etc., of works
Until year end = Copyrighted until the end of a calendar year, i.e. December 31, unless otherwise specified
Berne = Country has signed the Berne Convention, see Berne in the "Countries, ..." column
TRIPS = The Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) is an international agreement administered by the World Trade Organization (WTO) that sets down minimum standards for many forms of intellectual property (IP) regulation as applied to nationals of other WTO Members. This also indicates that this country has at least a minimum of 50 years after the death of the creator until the copyright expires.
WCT = The World Intellectual Property Organization Copyright Treaty, (WIPO Copyright Treaty or WCT), is an international treaty on copyright law adopted by the member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 1996.
Table of copyright durations by country
| Countries, areas, and entities | Copyright terms based on authors' deaths[1] | Copyright terms based on publication and creation dates[1] | Until year end? |
|---|---|---|---|
 Afghanistan | Life + 50 years[14] | 50 years from publication (anonymous or pseudonymous work)[14] 50 years from publication (published after authors' deaths)[14] 50 years from publication (audiovisual works)[14] 50 years from publication (photographic, painting works)[14] 50 years from creation (phonogram)[14] | Yes (Afghan calendar)[14] |
 Albania | Life + 70 years[15]:Art. 17 | 70 years from publication (anonymous or pseudonymous work)[15]:Art. 18 70 years from publication; 70 years from creation if unpublished (photographic or audiovisual work of joint authorship)[16] 25 years from production (works of applied art)[15]:Art. 20 | Yes[15]:Art. 21 |
 Algeria | Life + 50 years (except posthumous work)[17]:Art. 54 | 50 years from publication; 50 years from creation if unpublished (collective work, anonymous or pseudonymous work, audiovisual work, posthumous work)[17]:Arts. 56–58, 6050 years from creation (photographs or the work of applied art[17]:Art. 59 | Yes[17]:Arts. 54, 56–58, 60 |
 Andorra | Life + 70 years[2][18]:Art. 18(1), (4) | 70 years from publication; 70 years from creation if unpublished (collective work with unknown authorship)[18]:Art. 18(3)70 years from publication (anonymous or pseudonymous work)[18]:Art. 18(5) | Yes[18]:Art. 18(8) |
 Angola | Life + 50 years[19] Life + 25 years (photographic works or applied arts)[19] | Yes[19] | |
 Anguilla | Life + 50 years[20] | 50 years from the death of the author, of the last surviving author for works with more than one author.[20] | |
 Antigua and Barbuda | Life + 50 years[21][22]:s. 10(1) | 50 years from publication; 50 years from creation if unpublished (anonymous or pseudonymous work, computer generated work, sound recording or film)[22]:s. 10(2), (4), 11(1) 50 years from creation (broadcast); 50 years after programme included in a cable programme service[22]:s. 12(1) 25 years from publication (typographical arrangement of a published edition)[22]:s. 13 | Yes[22]:s. 10(1), 10(2), (4), 11(1), 12(1), 13 |
 Argentina | Life + 70 years[23]:Art. 5 | 50 years from publication (anonymous intellectual works belonging to institutions, corporations or legal persons)[23]:Art. 8Phonograms: 70 years from first publication.[24][25][26][27] Photographs: 20 years from first publication.[28] Cinematographic works: 50 years after death of the last survivor among the producer, the director, the screenplay writer or the composer (for musical comedies).[28] | Yes[23]:Art. 5 |
 Armenia | Life + 70 years[29]:Art. 37 | 70 years from publication (anonymous or pseudonymous works)[29]:Art. 37 | Yes[29]:Art. 37 |
 Aruba | Life + 50 years[30](wikisource) | ||
 Australia (including external territories) | Life + 70 years[31]:s. 33 [Life + 50 years (death before 1955)][32] | 70 years from publication (sound recordings, cinematograph films)[31]:s. 93, 94 50 years after making (television broadcasts and sound broadcasts)[31]:s. 95 25 years from publication (published editions of works)[31]:s. 96 [50 years from publication (photographs, no longer applicable since 1 January 2005)][32] | Yes[31]:ss. 93–96[32] |
 Austria | Life + 70 years[3][33]:§ 60, 62[34] | 70 years from publication; 70 years from creation if unpublished (anonymous or pseudonymous work)[33]:§ 61 | Yes[33]:§ 64 |
 Azerbaijan | Life + 50 years (except posthumous work published at first time during 30 years)[35]:Art. 25(1), (2) | 50 years from publication (anonymous or pseudonymous work; posthumous work published at first time during 30 years)[35]:Art. 25(2), 26(1), (3) | Yes[35]:Art. 25(1), (2), 26(1), (3) |
 Bahamas | Berne (The Berne Convention states that all works except photographic and cinematographic shall be copyrighted for at least 50 years after the author's death, but parties are free to provide longer terms) | ||
 Bahrain | Life + 50 calendar years (except posthumous work)[36]:Art. 31(1) | 50 calendar years from publication (cinematographic films, applied arts works and photographs; anonymous or pseudonymous works; corporate works; posthumous works)[36]:Art. 31(2)(a–d)40 years from publication or 50 years from completion, whichever is earlier (computer software)[36]:Art. 31(3) | |
 Bangladesh | Life + 60 years[37]:s. 24 | 60 years from publication (cinematographic films[37]:s. 26, sound recordings[37]:s. 27, photographs[37]:s. 28, computer programmes[37]:s. 28Aor works of the Government, local authority or an international organisation[37]:ss. 30–32) | Yes[37]:s. 24, 26, 27, 28, 28A, ss. 30-32 |
 Barbados | Life + 50 years[38][39]:s. 10(1) | 50 years from publication (anonymous or pseudonymous works)[39]:s. 10(3) 50 years from making (computer-generated work)[39]:s. 10(4) 50 years from publication; 50 years from creation if unpublished (sound recordings and films)[39]:s. 11 50 years from creation (broadcast); 50 years after programme included in a cable programme service[39]:s. 12 25 years from publication (typographical arrangement of a published edition)[39]:s. 13 | Yes[39]:ss. 10–13 |
 Belarus | Life + 50 years[40]:Art. 22(1) | 50 years from publication or if unpublished 50 years from creation (anonymous or pseudonymous works)[40]:Art. 22(2) 50 years from fixation (performance)[40]:Art. 38(1) 50 years from publication or if unpublished 50 years from fixation (phonogram)[40]:Art. 38(2) 50 years from the first broadcast or cable transmission[40]:Art. 38(3) | Yes[40]:Arts. 22(4), 38(4) |
 Belgium | Life + 70 years[41] | ||
 Belize | Life + 50 years[42] | 50 years from publication (anonymous or pseudonymous work)[42] 50 years from publication (sound recording or film)[42] 50 years from publication (computer-generated work)[42] | Yes |
 Benin | Life + 50 years | ||
 Bermuda | Life + 50 years[43] | ||
| Berne Convention signatories | Life + 50 years[44] Signatories may grant longer terms.[45] | 50 years from publication or if not shown 50 years from creation (cinematographic works)[46] 50 years from publication (anonymous or pseudonymous works)[47] 25 years from creation (photographic works)[48] Signatories may grant longer terms.[45] | Yes[49] |
 Bhutan | Life + 50 years[50] | ||
 Bolivia | Life + 50 years[51] | ||
 Bosnia and Herzegovina | Life + 70 years[52] | ||
 Botswana | Berne, TRIPS, WCT[53] | ||
 Brazil | Life + 70 years[54]:art. 41 | 70 years from disclosure (audiovisual and photographic works)[54]:art. 44 | Yes[54]:arts. 41, 44 |
 British Indian Ocean Territory | unknown | ||
 British Virgin Islands | unknown | ||
 Brunei | Life + 50 years[55] | ||
 Bulgaria | Life + 70 years (EU)[56] | ||
 Burkina Faso | Life + 70 years[57] | ||
 Burundi | Life + 50 years [58] | 50 years from publication (phonograms)[58] | |
 Cambodia | Life + 50 years[59] | ||
 Cameroon | Life + 50 years[60] | ||
 Canada | Life + 50 years[61][62] | 50 years from publication or 75 years from creation, whichever is shorter (anonymous works).[61] | Yes[61] |
 Cape Verde | Life + 50 years[16] | ||
 Cayman Islands | unknown | ||
 Central African Republic | Berne, TRIPS | ||
 Chad | Berne, TRIPS | ||
 Chile | Life + 70 years[63] | ||
 China, People's Republic of (Mainland only) | Life + 50 years (citizens' works)[64]:para. 1 | 50 years from publication, or if unpublished, 50 years from creation (works of legal entities, cinematographic works, films or photographic works)[64]:paras. 2–3 | Yes[64] |
 Colombia | Life + 80 years[65]:Art. 21 | 80 years from publication (cinematographic works)[65]:Art. 37 | Yes[65]:Art. 28 |
 Comoros | Berne | ||
 Congo, Democratic Republic of the | Berne, TRIPS | ||
 Congo, Republic of the | Life + 50 years[66] | 25 years from creation (photographic work and work of applied art)[66]:Art. 65 | |
 Costa Rica | Life + 70 years[67] | ||
 Côte d'Ivoire | Life + 99 years (except posthumous works published within this period)[68]:Art. 45(1) | 99 years from publication (photographic or audiovisual works or works of applied art; anonymous or pseudonymous works; posthumous works)[68]:Art. 45(3)(a–c) | Yes[68]:Art. 45 |
 Croatia | Life + 70 years[69] | ||
 Cuba | Life + 50 years | ||
 Curaçao | Life + 50 years[70] | ||
 Cyprus | Life + 70 years (EU, WCT)[71] | ||
 Czech Republic | Life + 70 years[72]:Art. 27(1) | 70 years from publication (anonymous works)[72]:Art. 27(3) | Yes[72]:Art. 27(7) |
 Denmark | Life + 70 years[73][4] | ||
 Djibouti | Life + 50 years (Djibouti Copyright Law No. 154/AN/06 of July 23, 2006 [265] )[75]:Art. 12 | For a cinematographic work, 50 years from the date when the work was made lawfully accessible to the public with the author's consent.[75]:Art. 15 For a photographic work or work of applied art, 25 years from the production of the work[75]:Art. 16 | Yes[75]:Art. 12 |
 Dominica | Life + 70 years[76] | ||
 Dominican Republic | Life + 70 years [77] | ||
 Ecuador | Life + 70 years[78] | ||
 Egypt | Life + 50 years[79] | ||
 El Salvador | Life + 50 years[80] | ||
 Equatorial Guinea | Life + 80 years[81][82]. However, there are additional expiration rules in Article 38 of the Main Equatorial Guinea Intellectual Property Law which may affect this. | ||
 Eritrea | Life + 0 years but at least 50 years since publication, whichever is longer (except posthumous works)[83]:Art. 1653, 1670 | 50 years since publication (posthumous works)[83]:Art. 1672 | |
 Estonia | Life + 70 years (EU)[84]:§ 38(1) | 70 years from publication (anonymous or pseudonymous works)[84]:§ 40 | Yes[84]:§ 43 |
 Ethiopia | Life + 50 years[85] | ||
 European Union Members | Life + 70 years[86]:Art. 1 (1) | 70 years from publication or if unpublished 70 years from creation (anonymous works. The terms "shall be calculated from the first day of January of the year following the event which gives rise to them" (art.3).)[86]:Art. 1 (3), (6) | Yes[86]:Art. 8 (1) |
 Fiji | Life + 50 years[87] | ||
 Finland | Life + 70 years[88] | 50 years from publication (sound recordings, television broadcasts and sound broadcasts)[89]:Arts. 46, 4850 years from creation (photographic works)[89]:Art. 49a | Yes[89]:Art. 43 |
 France | Life + 70 years (except posthumous works published after this term)[5][90]:Arts. L123-1, L123-2The following additions to copyright term formerly applied to all works, but the French Cour de Cassation has found them to be superseded by later copyright treaties, thus limiting the copyright term to life + 70 years total, at least for non-musical works of authors who did not "die for France".[91]+ 6 years 152 days for musical work published through 1920[90]:Art. L123-8
| 70 years from publication (pseudonymous, anonymous or collective works)[90]:Art. L123-325 years from publication (posthumous works published after Art. L123-1 term)[90]:L123-4 | Yes[90]:Arts. L123-1, L123-3, L123-4, but not Arts. L123-8 or L123-9 |
 Gabon | Berne, TRIPS, WCT | ||
 Gambia | Life + 50 years[92] | ||
 Georgia | Life + 70 years[93] | ||
 Germany | Life + 70 years[94] | 25 years from first publication or first public performance if copyright has expired before such publication or performance, or if the work has never been protected in Germany and the author died more than 70 years before the first publication[95] | Yes[96] |
 Ghana | Life + 70 years[97] | ||
 Greece | Life + 70 years[6][98]:Arts. 29, 31(3) | 70 years from publication (anonymous or pseudonymous works)[98]:Art. 31(1) | Yes[98]:Arts. 29, 31 |
 Grenada | Berne, TRIPS[99] | ||
 Guatemala | Life + 75 years[100]:Art. 43 | 75 years from publication or if unpublished 75 years from creation (computer programs and collective works; anonymous or pseudonymous works; audiovisual works)[100]:Arts. 44, 45, 47 | Yes[100]:Art. 48 |
 Guinea | TRIPS, WCT | ||
 Guinea-Bissau | Berne, TRIPS | ||
 Guyana | Life + 50 years[101] | ||
 Haiti | Berne, TRIPS[102] | ||
 Honduras | Life + 75 years[103] | 70 years from publication or, if unpublished within 50 years, 70 years from creation (works of applied art and photographs)[104] | Yes[104] |
 Hong Kong[7] | Life + 50 years (literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works with known authorship)[105]:s. 17(2) Life + 50 years (films)[105]:s. 19[8] | 50 years from publication or if unpublished 50 years from creation (literary, dramatic, musical or artistic works with unknown authorship)[105]:s. 17(3) 50 years from publication or if unpublished 50 years from creation (sound recordings)[106]:s. 18 50 years from creation (broadcast); 50 years after programme included in a cable programme service[106]:s. 20 25 years from publication (typographical arrangement of published editions)[106]:s. 21 | Yes[106]:s. 17, 18, 20, 21 |
 Hungary | Life + 70 years[107]:s. 31(1)(2) If there are multiple authors, life of last surviving author + 70 years[107]:s. 31(4) | 70 years and shall be counted from the first day of the year following the first disclosure of the work in case the person of the author is unknown. However, should the author become known during this period of time, the term of protection shall be counted as the person of the author would have been known.[107]:s. 31(3) 70 years counted from the first day of the year following the first disclosure of a collective work or a cinematographic creation.[107]:s. 31(5)(6) 25 years from the first day of the year following the first disclosure if copyright protection of a scope consistent with the author's economic rights shall be due to the person who, following the expiration of the term of protection or the period of time determined in the term of protection shall be counted from a date other than the first day of the year following the death of the author, the author dying last, or the joint author, discloses according to the law a work previously not disclosed to the public.[107]:s. 31(7), 32 As an exception expressions of folklore themselves do not, however, enjoy copyright protection in Hungary.[107]:s. 1(7) | Yes[107]:s. 31(2) |
 Iceland | Life + 70 years[108] | ||
 India[109] | Life + 60 years (except posthumous works)[9][110]:s. 22 | 60 years from publication (posthumous works, photographs, cinematograph films, sound recordings, works of public undertakings, and works of international organisations)[110]:ss. 24–27, 28A, 29 | Yes[110]:ss. 22, 24–27, 28A, 29 |
 Indonesia | 50 years after Publication, Life+70 years[111] | 70 years the duration of copyright protection to the author's death for books, musics, etc. 50 years after publication for cinematography, photograph, etc.[111] | |
 Iran | Life + 50 years[112] | 30 years from publication (photographic or cinematographic works)[113] | |
 Iraq | Life + 50 years[114] | 5 years from publication (photographic works)[115] | |
 Ireland | Life + 70 years[116] | Yes | |
 Israel | Life + 70 years[117] | 50 years from publication (photographs created until May 2007)[118] | Yes[119] |
 Italy | Life + 70 years [Life + 50 years][120]:Art. 25 | 70 years from publication (anonymous or pseudonymous work)[120]:Art. 2720 years from publication (copyright of State, the provinces, the communes, the academies or public cultural organizations, or to private legal entities of a non-profit making character) | Yes[120]:s. 25, s. 32ter |
 Jamaica[121] | Life + 95 years | 95 years from publication (anonymous or pseudonymous work, work for hire)[122]:s. 10(2), s. 13A 95 years from creation (computer-generated work, broadcast, cable programme)[122]:s. 10(4), 12(1) 95 years from publication or if unpublished 95 years from creation (sound recording or film)[122]:s. 11 50 years from publication (typographical arrangement of a published edition)[122]:s. 13 | Yes[122]:s. 10, 11, 12, 13 |
 Japan | Life + 70 years[123][124]:Art. 51(2) | 70 years from publication, or if unpublished, 70 years from creation (cinematographic works)[124]:Art. 54(1)70 years from publication, or if unpublished, 70 years from creation (works of a legal person or other corporate body)[125][124]:Art. 53(1) | Yes[124]:Art. 57 |
 Jordan | Life + 50 years[126] | ||
 Kazakhstan | Life + 50 years[127] | ||
 Kenya | Life + 50 years (literary, musical or artistic work other than photographs)[128]:s. 23(2)1 | 50 years from the latest of creation or publication (audio-visual works and photographs)[128]:s. 23(2) | Yes[128]:s. 23 |
 Kiribati | Life + 50 years[92] | ||
 Kosovo | Life Only | Yes | |
 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of | Life + 70 years[129] | Works authored by "an institution, enterprise or organization", 50 years from publication[129] | |
 Korea, Republic of | Life + 70 years (amended on 2011-06-30)[130]:Art. 39 | 70 years from publication (anonymous or pseudonymous work)[130]:Art. 40 70 years from publication, or if unpublished within 50 years, 70 years from creation (works made for hire, cinematographic works)[130]:Art. 41 | Yes[130]:Art. 44 |
 Kuwait | TRIPS[131] | ||
 Kyrgyzstan | Life + 50 years[132] | ||
 Laos | Life + 50 years[10] | 50 years after making available. Also: • Anonymous/pseudonymous work: 50 years from the date the work was made available to the public; • Cinematographic work: 50 years from making available, failing that, 50 years from making; • Applied art: 25 years from date of creation. Related: Performances, phonograms, broadcasts: 50 years since the date of performance, fixation, and broadcast, respectively. | |
 Latvia | Life + 70 years[135]:Art. 36 [Life + 50 years][136] | 70 years from publication (anonymous or pseudonymous work)[137] | Yes[135]:Art. 38 |
 Lebanon | Life + 50 years[138] | 50 years after lawful publication; failing publication, 50 years after work completion. Also: • economic rights: 50 years from performance. • moral rights: perpetual • broadcasters' rights: 20 years after first broadcasting.[139] | |
 Lesotho | Life + 50 years[92] | ||
 Liberia | Life + 50 years[140] | ||
 Libya | Life + 25 years with 50-year minimum (as of 1968; may have changed since) | ||
 Liechtenstein | Life + 70 years [Life + 50 years][141] | ||
 Lithuania | Life + 70 years [Life + 50 years][142] | ||
 Luxembourg | Life + 70 years [Life + 50 years][143] | ||
 Macau[7] | Life + 50 years[144]:Art. 21(1) | 50 years from publication (anonymous works)[144]:Art. 23 50 years from publication (audiovisual works)[144]:Art. 106 25 years from completion (works of applied art and photographic works)[144]:Arts. 148 & 155 | Yes[144]:Art. 21(3) |
 Madagascar | Life + 70 years[145] | ||
 Malawi | Life + 50 years[146] | ||
 Malaysia[147] | Life + 50 years (literary, musical and artistic works, not posthumous)[148]:s. 17(1) | 50 years after publication (posthumous work, published edition, film, live performance)[148]:s. 17(2), s. 18, s. 22, s. 23A 50 years after publication or if unpublished 50 years from creation (anonymous, pseudonymous work, sound recording, broadcast, film)[148]:s. 17(3), s. 19 50 years after being made (broadcast)[148]:s. 20 | Yes[148]:s. 17(2), (3), s. 18, s. 19, s. 20, s. 22, s. 23A |
 Maldives | Life + 50 years[149] | ||
 Mali | Life + 50 years[150] | ||
 Malta | Life + 70 years[151] | Yes[151] | |
 Marshall Islands | 0, no copyright.[11][152][153] At this stage the Republic of Marshall Islands is not member to any international convention [or treaty] on copyright[154] | 0, no copyright.[11] | |
 Mauritania | Berne, TRIPS | ||
 Mauritius | Life + 50 years[155] | ||
 Mexico | Life + 100 years (effective 23 July 2003 non-retroactively)[156] [Life + 75 years (before the law change on 23 July 2003, applicable for deaths before 23 July 1928)][157] [Life + 50 years (before the law change on 1 January 1994, applicable for deaths before 1 January 1944)][158] |
| |
 Micronesia | Life + 50 years[159] | ||
 Moldova | Life + 70 years[160] | ||
 Monaco | Life + 50 years[161] | ||
 Mongolia | Life + 50 years[162] | ||
 Montenegro[12] | Life + 70 years[163] | ||
 Morocco | Life + 50 years[164] | 70 years after a work's lawful publication; if no lawful publication has taken place within 50 years of the making, copyright lasts for 70 years after the work's communication to the public; if no lawful communication to the public has taken place within 50 years of the making, copyright lasts for 70 years after the work is made; and moral rights last perpetually. 70 years for Performers' rights, if no lawful publication has taken place within 50 years of the performance, copyright lasts for 70 years after the work's first performance. 70 years for Broadcasters' rights: if no lawful publication has taken place within 50 years of the work's creation, copyright lasts for 70 years after the work's creation.[165] | |
 Mozambique | Life + 70 years[166] | ||
 Myanmar | TRIPS | ||
 Namibia | Life + 50 years (except posthumous works)[167]:s. 3(2)(a) | 50 years from publication (posthumous works)[167]:s. 3(2)(a)50 years from publication or if unpublished 50 years from creation (cinematograph films, photographs and computer programs)[167]:s. 3(2)(b) | Yes[167]:s. 3 |
 Nauru | Life + 50 years[168][169]:s. 2(3), s. 3(4) | 50 years after publication (sound recordings,[168][169]:s. 12(3)cinematograph films[168][169]:s. 13(3)(b)(except for newsreels, or if registered under the Cinematograph Films Act 1938),[168][169]:Secondtelevision and sound broadcasts,[168][169]:s. 14(2)photographs,[168][169]:s. 3(4)(b)engravings,[168][169]:s. 3(4)(a)posthumous literary, dramatic and musical works[168][169]:s. 2(3)and anonymous literary, dramatic and musical works)[168][169]:Second Schedule 25 years after publication (published editions of literary, dramatic or musical works)[168][169]:s. 15(2) 50 years after occurrence of event (newsreels)[168][169]:s. 13(8) 50 years after death of last author to die (works of joint authorship)[168][169]:Third Schedule | Yes[168][169] |
 Nepal | Life + 50 years | 25 years from creation (applied art and photographic work)[170] | |
 Netherlands | Life + 70 years[171] | 70 years from publication (anonymous or pseudonymous work, corporate works with no listed natural author)[172] 25 years from publication (works first published more than 70 years after the death of the author)[173] | Yes[174] |
| Caribbean Netherlands | Life + 50 years[175] | ||
 New Zealand | Life + 50 years (literary, dramatic, musical, or artistic work)[176]:s. 22(1) | 50 years from creation (computer-generated work)[176]:s. 22(2) | Yes[176]:s. 22 |
 Nicaragua | Life + 70 years[177] | ||
 Niger | Life + 50 years[178] | ||
 Nigeria | Life + 70 years (literary, musical or artistic works other than photographs)[179] | 70 years from publication (literary, musical or non-photograph artistic works in the case of government or a body corporate) 50 years from publication (cinematograph films and photographs) 50 years from publication (sound recordings) 50 years from publication (broadcasts)[179] | Yes[179] |
 North Macedonia | Life + 70 years[180] | ||
 Norway | Life + 70 years Life + 15 years, but no less than 50 years after publication ("«simple» photographs")[181][182] | 70 years following the year of death of the author (i.e. an author that died in 1940 will have their works protected until January 1, 2011). In a collective or joint work, this is counted from the death of the longest surviving author. For a motion picture, the following are to be considered authors: main director, scriptwriter, dialogue author, and composer of original musical score. 70 years for anonymous works from the year when the work was created. If such an unpublished work, whose copyright has expired, is then later published, the publisher is entitled for a copyright for 25 years from the year of publication[181]"Norway also has some peculiar laws that protect «simple» photographs. I.e. photographs, such as snapshots, that are below the threshold of originality to merit copyright protection are given neighbouring rights protection. [..] The Norwegian copyright act does not address public domain directly. The Norwegian copyright law defines two basic rights for authors: economic rights and moral rights. [..] For material that is outside the scope of copyright, the phrase «i det fri» («in the free») is used. This corresponds roughly to the term «public domain» in English. Norwegian copyright law makes a distinction between copyright and neighbouring rights. Only creative and artistic works are subject to copyright. Some other types of works are protected by so‐called neighbouring rights."[181] | Yes[182] |
 Oman | Life + 70 years[183] | 90 years from the year following the publication 120 years from the year following the completion[184] | Yes |
 Pakistan | Life + 50 years[185] | Yes[185] | |
 Palau | Life + 50 years[186] | ||
 Panama | Life + 50 years[187] | ||
 Papua New Guinea | Life + 50 years[188] | ||
 Paraguay | Life + 70 years[189] | ||
 Peru | Life + 70 years[190] | ||
 Philippines | Life + 50 years[191]:s. 213.1 | 50 years from publication (photographic works), or 50 years from creation if unpublished within 50 years of creation[191]:s. 213.5 | Yes[191]:s. 214 |
 Poland | Life + 70 years[192] | ||
 Portugal | Life + 70 years [Life + 50 years][193] | ||
 Qatar | Life + 50 years[194] | ||
 Romania | Life + 70 years[195] | ||
 Russia | Life + 70 years[196]Life + 74 years (for those who fought in or worked during the war of 1941–45) Date of rehabilitation + 70 (74) years (for unlawfully prosecuted and posthumously rehabilitated) Protection applies if copyright term of Life + 50 years (or Life + 54 years) did not expire by 1 January 1993.[197] | 50 years from publication (radio and television broadcasts)[198] 50 years from creation if unpublished, or 50 years from publication (sound records)[199]70 years from publication (anonymous works)[196]70 years from publication if published within 70 years from death (posthumous publication) 70 years from publication if published before 3 August 1993 by a corporation (cinematographic, television, radio works, print periodicals and compilations).[197] Protection term applies to "the whole work" only, i.e. individual authors of each protectable part of the whole work retain their own copyright[200]All copyrights to works published prior to October Revolution (7 November 1917) are believed to be uncopyrighted. | |
 Rwanda | Berne, TRIPS | ||
 Saint Helena | Life + 50 years | ||
 St. Kitts and Nevis | Life + 50 years[92] | ||
 St. Lucia | Life + 50 years[201] | ||
 St. Vincent and the Grenadines | Life + 75 years (literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work)[202] | 75 years from publication or if unpublished 50 years from creation (sound recording or film)[202]:s. 9(1) 50 years from creation (computer-generated work)[202]:s. 8(4) 50 years from creation (broadcast); 50 years after programme included in a cable programme service[202]:s. 10(1) | Yes[202]:ss. 8–10 |
 Samoa | Life + 75 years[203] | ||
 San Marino | Life + 50 years[204] | ||
 São Tomé and Príncipe | Life + 70 years[205] | ||
 Saudi Arabia | Life + 50 years[206] | ||
 Senegal | Life + 70 years[207] | ||
 Serbia[13] | Life + 70 years[163] | ||
 Seychelles | Life + 50 years[208] | 50 years from publication (audio-visual works)[208]:s. 9(1)(ii), (v)25 years from creation (applied art)[208]:s. 9(1)(iv) | Yes[208]:s. 9(1) |
 Sierra Leone | Life + 50 years[209]:s. 21 | 50 years from publication (photograph, film, or broadcast)[209]:s. 2550 years from creation (sound recording)[209]:s. 23 | |
 Singapore[210] | Life + 70 years (except posthumous work)[211][212]:s. 28(2) | 70 years from publication (posthumous work, photograph)[212]:s. 28(3), (6) 70 years from publication (sound recordings and cinematograph films)[212]:s. 92, 93 50 years after making (television broadcasts, sound broadcasts, cable programmes)[212]:s. 94, 95 25 years from publication (published editions of works)[212]:s. 96 | Yes[212]:ss. 28, 92–96 |
 Sint Maarten | Life + 50 years[70] | ||
 Slovakia | Life + 70 years[213] | ||
 Slovenia | Life + 70 years[214] | ||
 Solomon Islands | Life + 50 years[215] | ||
 Somalia | Very unclear. See the discussion at Commons. | ||
 South Africa | Life + 50 years (literary or musical works or artistic works, other than photographs)[216]:s. 3(2)(a) | 50 years from publication or if unpublished 50 years from creation (cinematography films, photographs, computer programs)[216]:s. 3(2)(b)50 years from publication (sound recordings; broadcasts; programme-carrying signals; and published editions)[216]:s. 3(2)(c) | Yes[216]:s. 3 |
 Spain | Life + 70 years [Life + 80 years (1879–1987, transitional provision apply[217]), Life + 60 years (1987–94)][218] | Yes[218]:Art. 30 | |
 Sri Lanka | Life + 70 years[219] | 70 years from publication or if unpublished 50 years from completion (audiovisual work)[219] 25 years from publication (applied art)[219] | Yes[219] |
 Sudan | Life + 50 years[220]:s. 13(2) | 25 years from publication (photographic pictures and cinematographic films and other audiovisual works; works published under unknown pseudonym or anonymously)[220]:s. 13(3)(a), (c) | |
 Suriname | Life + 50 years[221] | 50 years from publication (anonymous or pseudonymous work) (art. 39) | Yes |
 Swaziland | Life + 50 years[222] | ||
 Sweden | Life + 70 years[223] | Yes[223] | |
 Switzerland | Life + 70 years effective 1 July 1993 non-retroactively, but Life + 50 years for computer programs[224] [Life + 50 years (before the law change on 1 July 1993, applicable for deaths through 1942)][225] | 50 years after performance (performers' rights)[226]:Art. 39 | Yes[226]:Art. 32 |
 Syria | Life + 50 years[227]:Art. 22 | 10 years from production (photographic, fine arts or plastic arts)[227]:Art. 25 | |
 Taiwan (Republic of China) | Life + 50 years (except posthumous works first published 40 to 50 years after death)[228]:Art. 30 | 50 years from publication (anonymous or pseudonymous work)[228]:Art. 32 50 years from publication; 50 years from creation if unpublished (corporate works; photographic works, audiovisual works, sound recordings, and performances)[228]:Arts. 33, 34 10 years from publication (posthumous works first published 40 to 50 years after death)[228]:Art. 30 | Yes[228]:Art. 35 |
 Tajikistan | Berne | ||
 Tanzania | Life + 50 years[229] | ||
 Thailand | Life + 50 years[230] | 50 years from publication or 50 years from creation if not published within 50 years from creation | |
 Timor Leste | Life + 50 years[231] | ||
 Togo | Life + 50 years[232] | ||
 Tonga | Life + 50 years[233] | ||
 Trinidad and Tobago | Life + 50 years[234] | ||
 Tunisia | Life + 50 years[235] |
| |
 Turkey | Life + 70 years[237] | ||
 Turkmenistan | Life + 50 years[238] | ||
 Tuvalu | Life + 50 years[92] | ||
 Uganda | TRIPS | ||
 Ukraine | Life + 70 years [Life + 50 years (1994–2001)][239] | 70 years from publication (anonymous or pseudonymous work) 70 years from publication (published within 30 years from authors' deaths)[239] | Yes[239] |
 United Arab Emirates | Life + 50 years[240] | ||
 United Kingdom | Life + 70 years If there are multiple authors, life of last surviving author + 70 years[241]:s. 12For films, life + 70 years for the last to die of: principal director, author of screenplay, author of dialogue, or composer of music specifically created for and used in the film.[241]:s. 13B | 70 years if the author is unknown 70 years after release; if not released, 70 years after making (sound recordings).[242] Recordings which entered the public domain prior to January 1, 2013 are not retroactively covered. 50 years from end of calendar year when the broadcast was first made (broadcasts)[241]:s. 14 | Yes[241]:s. 12, 13 |
 United States[243] | Life + 70 years (works published since 1978 or unpublished works)[244] | 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation whichever is shorter (anonymous works, pseudonymous works, or works made for hire, published since 1978)[245]95 years from publication for works published 1964–77; 28 (if copyright not renewed) or 95 years from publication for works published 1924–63 (Copyrights prior to 1924 have expired, not including copyrights on sound recordings fixed prior to February 15, 1972, covered only under state laws.)[246] | Yes[247] |
| Universal Copyright Convention minimum terms | Life + 25 years (general works)[248] | 25 years from publication (specific works not based on authors' deaths)[248]10 years (photographic works or to works of applied art)[249] | |
 Uruguay | Life + 50 years[250] | 50 years after the work is made available (anonymous and pseudonymous works)[251]50 years from publication (collective works)[251] | Yes[251] |
 Uzbekistan | Life + 50 years[252] | ||
 Vanuatu | Life + 50 years[253] | 25 years after the work is made (works of applied art)[253] 50 years after the latest of: the date the work is made, the date the work is made available to the public or the date of first publication (works published anonymously or under a pseudonym, collective works and audiovisual works)[253] 50 years after the death of the last author to die (works of joint authorship)[253] | Yes[253] |
 Vatican City | Life + 70 years[254] | ||
 Venezuela | Life + 60 years[255]:Art. 25 | 60 years from publication; 60 years from creation if unpublished (an audiovisual work, a broadcast work or a computer program)[255]:Art. 3760 years from publication (anonymous or pseudonymous work)[255]:Art. 27 | Yes[255]:Arts. 25–27 |
 Vietnam | Berne | ||
 Yemen | Life + 30 years | 10 years from the date of issue from January 1 of the year of issue for photographs; 25 years from the date of production from January 1 of the production year for motion picture or television film.[256]After expiry of copyright, the work "may be announced to be the ownership of the State" (emphasis added).[256] | |
 Zambia | Life + 50 years[257] | ||
 Zimbabwe | Life + 50 years[258][259]:s. 5(3), 6(3)(a) | 50 years from publication (photographs)[259]:s. 6(3)(b) 50 years from creation (Sound recordings)[259]:s. 16(2) 50 years from publication (cinematograph films, broadcasts)[259]:s. 17(2), s. 18(2) | Yes[259]:s. 6, 16–18 |
See also
CERLALC, an intergovernmental organization that promotes the development of book publishing and copyright issues in Latin America and the Caribbean
List of parties to international copyright treaties
Moral rights (copyright law)
Official text copyright
Rule of the shorter term
References
[1]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgTerms of protection were taken from a variety of sources, including WIPO, UNESCO and the University of Pennsylvania (see External links). Where no more specific information is available for a country, an indication of its probable minimum copyright term can be gained from its status as:
a signatory of the Berne Convention ("Berne"); minimum term of life + 50 years, except for photographs.
a member of the WTO ("TRIPS"); minimum term of life + 50 years.
a candidate for membership of the European Union ("EU"); term must be life + 70 years before accession.
Sep 29, 2019, 6:54 PM
[2]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgAn audiovisual work is copyrighted in Andorra for the same term, computed from the last of the following persons to survive: the principal director, the author of the scenario, the author of the dialogue and the composer of music specifically created for the audiovisual work.
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[3]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgA cinematographic work is copyrighted in Austria for the same term, computed from the last surviving person among the following: the principal director of the film and the authors of the screenplay, the dialogues and the musical work specially created for the cinematographic work.
Sep 29, 2019, 6:54 PM
[4]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgExamples of protected works are literature, music, theatre, film, the visual arts – including photography, architecture, decorative arts – and computer programmes. It is the expression of the work which is protected – that is to say, the work's singular design or presentation. Copyright applies from the moment of creation of the work. Thus, protection does not depend on any kind of registration. ERICarts, Council of Europe. "Denmark: 5.1 General legislation : 5.1.7 Copyright provisions". www.culturalpolicies.net. Retrieved 2016-01-31.
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[5]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgAn audiovisual work is copyrighted in France for the same term, computed from the last surviving person among the following: the author of the scenario, the author of the dialogue, the author of the musical compositions, with or without words, specially composed for the work and the main director.
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[6]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgAn audiovisual work is copyrighted in Greece for the same term, computed from the last of the following persons to survive: the principal director, the author of the screenplay, the author of the dialogue and the composer of the music specifically created for use in the audiovisual work.
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[7]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgThe Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau have their own status, distinct from that of the rest of China, under international copyright and trade law
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[8]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgComputed from the last of the following persons with known identity to survive: (a) the principal director; (b) the author of the screenplay; (c) the author of the dialogue; or (d) the composer of music specially created for and used in the film.
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Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgLiterary, dramatic, musical, and non-photograph artistic works.
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[10]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgThe law entered into force January 16, 2012. "Part 6. Term of Protection of Copyright and Related Rights" (PDF), Law on Intellectual Property (Amended), Lao People's Democratic Republic (via WIPO), 2011-12-20, retrieved 2014-01-30
"Law No. 01/NA of December 20, 2011, on Intellectual Property (as amended)". WIPO. 2012-01-16. Retrieved 2014-01-30.
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[11]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgUnauthorized sale or commercial use of sound & audio-visual recordings is prohibited (Unauthorized Copies of Recorded Materials Act, 1991).
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[12]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgMontenegro is assumed to have succeeded to the copyright obligations of Serbia and Montenegro. See Serbia also.
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[13]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgSerbia is deemed to be a successor state of Serbia and Montenegro, which itself was a successor state to Yugoslavia for international copyright treaties, notably the Berne Convention, effective 17 June 1930
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[15]
Citation Linkwww.wipo.int"Law No. 7564, dated April 19, 1992, on Copyright". 1 May 2008. Archived from the original on 30 October 2007. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
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Citation Linkportal.unesco.orgArt. 19, Lei no. 101/III/90 de 29 de dezembro de 1990
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Citation Linkwww.wipo.int"DZ001: Droits d'auteur, Ordonnance, 19/07/2003 - 1424, n° 03-05". 1 May 2008. Archived from the original on 1 May 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
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Citation Linkportal.unesco.org"Law on Copyright and Related Rights of 1999" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-01-08. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
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Citation Linkweb.archive.orgArt. 20(1), Copyright Law n° 4/90, March 1990 (PDF).
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[20]
Citation Linkwww.iprfirm.com"IP laws revised – Anguilla". Iprfirm.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2012. Retrieved 2012-06-08.
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