Description

This article is from the Piano General Topics FAQ, by Isako Hoshino rmmpfaq@yahoo.com with numerous contributions by others.

9.3] Duration of Copyright Status (Piano)

A work created on or after January 1, 1978 is automatically
protected from the moment of its creation, and protection
ordinarily lasts for the author's life plus an additional 50
years thereafter.

For works published or registered before January 1, 1978 a
first term copyright of 28 years starting on the date it was
secured (published or registered as unpublished) was
provided. During the last (28th) year of the first term, the
copyright was eligible for renewal for another 28 years. For
copyrights in effect January 1, 1978 the current copyright
law extended the renewal term from 28 to 47 years, giving
works with renewed copyrights a total term of protection of
75 years. For copyrights secured January 1, 1964 through
December 31, 1977, the 47 year extension is automatic.

This means that as of 1995 all works published during or
before 1920 are now in the public domain, as are works
published before 1964 for which a copyright extension was not
obtained.

Circulars 15, 15a, and 15t contain further information on
copyright terms. Circular 22 describes how to search the
Copyright Office records concerning the copyright status of a
work.

Continue to:

• prev: 9.2] Copyright Status (Piano)
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• next: 9.4] International Protection (Piano)