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(See footnote 1)

Never Published, Never Registered Works2

Type of Work Copyright Term In the public domain in the U.S. as of 1 January 2020 3 Unpublished works Life of the author + 70 years Works from authors who died before 1950 Unpublished anonymous and pseudonymous works, and works made for hire (corporate authorship) 120 years from date of creation Works created before 1900 Unpublished works when the death date of the author is not known4 120 years from date of creation5 Works created before 19005

Works Registered or First Published in the U.S.

Date of Publication6 Conditions7 Copyright Term 3 Before 1925 None None. In the public domain due to copyright expiration 1925 through 1977 Published without a copyright notice None. In the public domain due to failure to comply with required formalities 1978 to 1 March 1989 Published without notice, and without subsequent registration within 5 years None. In the public domain due to failure to comply with required formalities 1978 to 1 March 1989 Published without notice, but with subsequent registration within 5 years 70 years after the death of author. If a work of corporate authorship, 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever expires first 1925 through 1963 Published with notice but copyright was not renewed8 None. In the public domain due to copyright expiration 1925 through 1963 Published with notice and the copyright was renewed8 95 years after publication date 1964 through 1977 Published with notice 95 years after publication date 1978 to 1 March 1989 Created after 1977 and published with notice 70 years after the death of author. If a work of corporate authorship, 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever expires first 1978 to 1 March 1989 Created before 1978 and first published with notice in the specified period The greater of the term specified in the previous entry or 31 December 2047 From 1 March 1989 through 2002 Created after 1977 70 years after the death of author. If a work of corporate authorship, 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever expires first From 1 March 1989 through 2002 Created before 1978 and first published in this period The greater of the term specified in the previous entry or 31 December 2047 After 2002 None 70 years after the death of author. If a work of corporate authorship, 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever expires first Anytime Works prepared by an officer or employee of the United States Government as part of that person's official duties. 19 None. In the public domain in the United States (17 U.S.C. § 105)

Works First Published Outside the U.S. by Foreign Nationals or U.S. Citizens Living Abroad9

Date of Publication Conditions Copyright Term in the United States Before 1925 None In the public domain (But see first special case below) Works Published Abroad Before 197810 1925 through 1977 Published without compliance with US formalities, and in the public domain in its source country as of 1 January 1996 (but see special cases) 20 In the public domain 1925 through 1977 Published in compliance with all US formalities (i.e., notice, renewal)11 95 years after publication date 1925 through 1977 Solely published abroad, without compliance with US formalities or republication in the US, and not in the public domain in its home country as of 1 January 1996 (but see special cases) 95 years after publication date 1925 through 1977 Published in the US less than 30 days after publication abroad Use the US publication chart to determine duration 1925 through 1977 Published in the US more than 30 days after publication abroad, without compliance with US formalities, and not in the public domain in its home country as of 1 January 1996 (but see special cases) 95 years after publication date Works Published Abroad After 1 January 1978 1978 to 2002 Created before 1978 and first published in a country that is a signatory to the Berne Convention or other 17 USC § 104A(h)(3) treaties 20 The greater of 70 years after the death of author (or if work of corporate authorship, 95 years from publication) or 31 December 2047 2003- Created before 1978 and first published after 2002 in a country that is a signatory to the Berne Convention or other 17 USC § 104A(h)(3) treaties 20 70 years after the death of the author, or if work of corporate authorship, 95 years from publication 1 January 1978 - 1 March 1989 Published without copyright notice, and in the public domain in its source country as of 1 January 1996 (but see special cases)18 In the public domain 1 January 1978 - 1 March 1989 Published without copyright notice in a country that is a signatory to the Berne Convention or other 17 USC § 104A(h)(3) treaties and is not in the public domain in its source country as of 1 January 1996 (but see special cases) 18 70 years after the death of author, or if work of corporate authorship, 95 years from publication 1 January 1978 - 1 March 1989 Published with copyright notice in a country that has copyright relations with the US (but see special cases) 13 70 years after the death of author, or if work of corporate authorship, 95 years from publication After 1 March 1989 Published in a country that has copyright relations with the US13 70 years after the death of author, or if work of corporate authorship, 95 years from publication After 1 March 1989 Published in a country with which the United States does not have copyright relations under a treaty In the public domain Special Cases 1 July 1909 through 1978 In Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands ONLY. Published in a language other than English, and without subsequent republication with a copyright notice12 Treat as an unpublished work until such date as first US-compliant publication occurred Anytime Created by a resident of Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Marshall Islands, or San Marino and published in one of these countries. Works from Nauru, Palau, Somalia, South Sudan, or Timor-Leste may also be included.13 Not protected by US copyright law until they become party to bilateral or international copyright agreements Anytime Works whose copyright was once owned or administered by the Alien Property Custodian, and whose copyright, if restored, would as of January 1, 1996, be owned by a government14 Not protected by US copyright law Anytime If fixed or solely published in one of the following countries, the 1 January 1996 date given above is replaced by the date of the country's membership in the Berne Convention or the World Trade Organization, whichever is earlier: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Cook Islands, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Haiti, Jersey, Jordan, Kiribati, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Micronesia, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal, Niue, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Samoa, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen

Sound recordings

(Note: The following information applies only to the sound recording itself, and not to any copyrights in underlying compositions or texts.)

Unpublished Sound Recordings, Domestic and Foreign Date of Fixation/Publication Conditions In the public domain in the U.S. as of 1 January 20193 Prior to 15 Feb. 1972 Indeterminate Subject to state common law protection. Enters the public domain on 15 Feb. 2067 After 15 Feb. 1972 Life of the author + 70 years. For unpublished anonymous and pseudonymous works and works made for hire (corporate authorship), 120 years from the date of fixation Nothing. The soonest anything enters the public domain is 15 Feb. 2067 Sound Recordings Published in the United States Before 1923 None 1 January 2022 1923 to 1946 None 100 years from publication 1947 to 1956 None 110 years from publication 1957 - 14 Feb 1972 None 15 Feb 2067 15 Feb 1972 to 1978 Published without notice (i.e, ©, year of publication, and name of copyright owner)15 In the public domain 15 Feb. 1972 to 1978 Published with notice 95 years from publication. 2068 at the earliest 1978 to 1 March 1989 Published without notice, and without subsequent registration In the public domain 1978 to 1 March 1989 Published with notice 70 years after death of author, or if work of corporate authorship, the shorter of 95 years from publication, or 120 years from creation. 2049 at the earliest After 1 March 1989 None 70 years after death of author, or if work of corporate authorship, the shorter of 95 years from publication, or 120 years from creation. 2049 at the earliest Sound Recordings Published Outside the United States Before 1923 None 1 January 2022 1923 to 1946 None 100 years from publication 1947 to 1956 None 110 years from publication 1957 to 14 Feb 1972 None 15 Feb. 2067 15 Feb 1972 to 1 March 1989 In the public domain in its home country as of 1 Jan. 1996 or there was US publication within 30 days of the foreign publication (but see special cases) Subject to state common law protection. Enters the public domain on 15 Feb. 2067 15 Feb. 1972 to 1978 Not in the public domain in its home country as of 1 Jan. 1996. At least one author of the work was not a US citizen or was living abroad, and there was no US publication within 30 days of the foreign publication (but see special cases) 95 years from date of publication. 2068 at the earliest 1978 to 1 March 1989 Not in the public domain in its home country as of 1 Jan. 1996. At least one author of the work was not a US citizen or was living abroad, and there was no US publication within 30 days of the foreign publication (but see special cases) 70 years after death of author, or if work of corporate authorship, the shorter of 95 years from publication, or 120 years from creation After 1 March 1989 None 70 years after death of author, or if work of corporate authorship, the shorter of 95 years from publication, or 120 years from creation Special Cases Fixed at any time Created by a resident of Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Marshall Islands, San Marino, or Timor-Leste and published in one of these countries. Works from Nauru, Palau, Somalia, or South Sudan may also be included.13 Not protected by US federal copyright law because they are not party to international copyright agreements Fixed prior to 1996 Works whose copyright was once owned or administered by the Alien Property Custodian, and whose copyright, if restored, would as of 1 January 1996 be owned by a government14 Not protected by US federal copyright law Fixed at any time If fixed or solely published in one of the following countries, the 1 January 1996 date given above is replaced by the date of the country's membership in the Berne Convention or the World Trade Organization, whichever is earlier: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Cook Islands, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Haiti, Jersey, Jordan, Kiribati, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Micronesia, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal, Niue, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Samoa, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen

Architectural Works16

(Note: Architectural plans and drawings may also be protected as textual/graphics works)

Date of Design Date of Construction Copyright Status Prior to 1 Dec. 1990 Not constructed by 31 Dec. 2002 Protected only as plans or drawings Prior to 1 Dec. 1990 Constructed by 1 Dec. 1990 Protected only as plans or drawings Prior to 1 Dec. 1990 Constructed between 30 Nov. 1990 and 31 Dec. 2002 Building is protected for 70 years after death of author, or if work of corporate authorship, the shorter of 95 years from publication, or 120 years from creation17 From 1 Dec. 1990 Immaterial Building is protected for 70 years after death of author, or if work of corporate authorship, the shorter of 95 years from publication, or 120 years from creation17

Editorial Note:

1 January 2019 marked two important changes to the copyright duration chart. First, for the first time in 20 years, published works entered the public domain. 1923 finally arrived, and the cut-off date for the public domain has started to shift. Second, the enactment of the Orrin G. Hatch-Bob Goodlatte Music Modernization Act in 2018 radically changed the calculus for pre-1972 published sound recordings. Both of these changes are reflected in the chart.

Notes

© 2004-2020 Peter B. Hirtle. Last updated 03 January, 2020. Use of this chart is governed by the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Comments and corrections are welcome, and may be sent to copyright@cornell.edu. Thanks to all those who have suggested improvements. Special thanks to Matthew Kopel for maintaining this document.