|
Based on comments by Michael Goad [September 2, 2008 10:25:54 PM EDT To: copyright@rootsweb.com Mailing List] and Copyright, Copy Sense.
The following applies to copyrights within the United States.
| Time period | Copyright Notice | Initial Period | Renewal Period | Unpublished works | Works for Hire
| | Created prior to 1923 | Works created prior to 1923 do not have copyright protection
| | Created from 1923 to 1963
| Required; absent notice works are in the public domain
| 28 years
| Total of 95 years; if renewed, protection ends no later than 2058; works not renewed pass into public domain by 1991
| Covered by today's copyright law.
| Not Applicable
| | Created from 1964 to 1977
| Required; absent notice works are in the public domain
| Initially 28 years, but in the end 95 years following subsequent acts
| Net effect of successive acts was to eliminate renewal requirements,
| Entered the public domain automatically upon future publication
| Not Applicable
| | Created after December 31, 1977
| Not required. Copyright starts as soon as the work is fixed in some tangible form.
| Life of the author plus 70 years,
| Not Applicable
| "Publication" not required for protection.
| 95 years if produced by a corporation, and published; 120 years if not published
|
|
